By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 9 -- The number of rotary rigs working in the US continued to climb this week with 1,476 units drilling, 11 more than the previous week and up from 1,005 during the comparable period a year ago, reported Baker Hughes Inc.
Land operations accounted for 1,407 rigs, up 8 from a week ago. Activity in inland waters was unchanged at 15 rigs drilling. US offshore gained 3 rigs to reach 54 total in US waters, including the gain of 3 rigs to 53 units working in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of the US rigs working, 959 were drilling for natural gas, 10 more than the previous week. The number drilling for oil increased by 3 to 505. There were 12 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased by 14 rigs to 749. Directional drilling increased by 3 units to 225.
Texas had the biggest increase among major producing states, up by 5 rigs to 628 working. New Mexico was up 4 rigs to 50 working. Up 2 rigs each were Louisiana and Pennsylvania with respective counts of 220 and 78. Alaska, California, and North Dakota were all up 1 rig, reaching 10, 30, and 95, respectively. Arkansas, West Virginia, and Wyoming were all unchanged at 41, 22, and 37 rigs working, respectively. Colorado’s rig could was 51, down 1 rig from a week ago. Oklahoma showed the biggest loss this week, down 3 units to 116 drilling.
Canada’s rotary rig count fell again this week, down 25 units this week to 126, up from 83 in the same period in 2009.
