US drilling increases steadily

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 21 -- US drilling activity continued its steady increase with 1,518 rotary rigs working this week, 12 more than the previous week and up from 900 units in the same period a year ago, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

All of the latest gain was in land operations, up 12 rigs to 1,457 drilling. Inland waters activity was unchanged at 12 rigs. Offshore drilling remained the same with a total 49 active units in US waters, including 48 working in the Gulf of Mexico.

Of the US rigs working, 969 are drilling for natural gas, up 18 from the previous week. The number drilling for oil decreased by 6 to 538. There were 11 rotary rigs unclassified. Horizontal drilling increased 6 rigs to 782. Directional drilling was up 4 to 232.

Among major producing states, Texas had the biggest increase of 11 rigs to 654 working. Oklahoma increased by 5 rigs to 129. New Mexico gained 2 to 65. Colorado had 1 more rig working for a total of 54. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and California were unchanged with respective counts of 99, 80, 37, and 31. Three states were down 1 rig each including Arkansas, 40; West Virginia, 19; and Alaska, 7. Louisiana was down 2 rigs to 211.

Canada’s rotary rig count jumped by 52 units to 173 working, compared with 74 rigs making hole in the same period last year.