US rig count up as number of oil-directed rigs increases

US oil and gas drilling rig activity increased this week with the addition of 7 rigs, bringing the total working rigs to 549. This week’s count, however, is down 38 rigs from the comparable period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land rigs were up by 5 to 532 working. Offshore, the number of rigs edged up by 1 rig to 14 units. One additional rig was drilling in inland waters this week, bringing the count to 3.

Of the US rigs working, 424 were drilling for oil, up 6 compared with the previous week. Rigs drilling for natural gas for the week ended Sept. 26 declined by 1 from the previous week to 117.

There were 8 rotary rigs unclassified, up 2 units from last week.

Directional drilling activity decreased by 1 unit to 57. Horizontal drilling is up 5 rigs to end the week with 478 units. Vertical drilling activity increased with a 3-unit gain to end the week with 14 units.

Among the top-producing US states, Texas had the biggest rig increase, up 4 units to 246 working. New Mexico, Louisiana, and Ohio each gained a single rig to end the week with respective rig counts of 95, 37, and 13.

Canada’s count increased by 1 to 190 rotary rigs working, which was down 28 units from the same period last year.