North American weekly rig count rises as counts in Canada, US both increase

North American drilling activity posted an increase for the week ended Nov. 21, with 749 total rotary rigs working in the US and Canada this week, Baker Hughes officials reported Friday.

Oil drove the gain in Canada, with 128 rigs drilling for oil this week, 4 more than the previous week. Three additional rigs were gas-directed this week, increasing the count to 67 from the prior week. Canada’s total rig count of 195 is 6 fewer than this time last year.

The US rig count is up 5 from the previous week to 554 rigs working. The count is down 29 from the same period in 2024. The number of rigs drilling on land increased by 6 units to 533 rigs working. That count is down 35 from the same period a year ago. One fewer rig was drilling in inland waters, leaving 2 working. The offshore rig count is unchanged at 19.

In the US, gas-directed rigs increased by 2 to 127, up 28 from the same time last year. The number of oil-directed rigs also increased by 2, with a total of 419 rigs working this week. That number is 60 fewer than the 479 rigs drilling for oil in the US and its waters this time last year.

Wyoming gained 3 rigs to end the week with 15 working. New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania each added a rig to end the week with respective counts of 106, 42, and 18.

Louisiana, North Dakota, and Alaska each dropped a rig to end the week with 43, 27, and 9 rigs running, respectively.