Oil-directed rigs lead decline in North American drilling operations

The overall drilling rig count in North America is down 33 units to 696 the week ended Mar. 27, with drops in oil-directed rigs accounting for much of the decline, according to Baker Hughes Inc. data. 

The rig count in Canada fell by 24 units to reach 153 rigs working for the week. The count is down 10 from this time a year ago. Of those 153 rigs working, 95 were drilling for oil, down 19 from last week, and down 13 from the year-ago period. Five fewer rigs were drilling for gas in Canada this week for a total of 58. The count is 4 more than this time last year. 

The US drilling rig count ended the week at 543. The count is 9 fewer than this time last week and 49 fewer than this time last year. Of the rigs working this week, 409 were oil-directed, down 5 from last week and down 75 from the year-ago period. There were 4 fewer gas-directed rigs working in the US this week for a total of 127. The count is up 24 from this time in 2024.

In the US, 530 rigs were drilling on land, 8 fewer than last week. Two rigs were drilling in inland waters, unchanged from last week. The offshore rig count fell by a single unit to 11.

Of the major US oil and gas producing states, only one saw a rig increase. With a 1-rig addition, North Dakota ended the week with 28 rigs working.

Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Utah each dopped 2 rigs, ending the week with 231, 44, 18, and 13 rigs working, respectively.

Louisiana’s rig count dropped 1 unit to 39. Colorado’s count fell by 1 unit to end the week with 11 rigs running.