BHI: US rig count down slightly during October, past week

The US drilling rig count dropped 4 units to settle at 1,925 rigs working during the week ended Nov. 7, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

The US rig count for October averaged 1,925, down 5 from September and up 181 from October 2013.

During the week, land rigs decreased 3 units to 1,859 while rigs drilling in inland waters edged down 1 unit to 13—in both cases dropping what they gained last week. Offshore rigs were unchanged at 53.

Gas rigs jumped 10 units to 356. Oil rigs fell 14 units to 1,568, up from its 13-unit decline last week.

Horizontal drilling rigs gained 9 units to 1,362. Directional drilling rigs lost 8 units to 203.

Canada lost 19 units to settle at 410 rigs working. The loss was comprised of a 12-unit drop in oil rigs to 225 and a 7-unit drop in gas rigs to 185. Compared with this week a year ago, Canada still has 32 more rigs working.

The Canadian rig count for October averaged 424, up 18 from September and up 46 from October 2013. The worldwide rig count for October averaged 3,657, down 2 from September and up 220 from October 2013.

Major states, basins

Texas once again led the major oil-and gas-producing states, adding 5 units to reach 906. Kansas, last week’s leader, gained 2 more units to reach 28. North Dakota and Pennsylvania each edged up a unit to 181 and 56, respectively.

Unchanged from a week ago were Oklahoma at 208, Colorado at 75, Wyoming at 61, California at 46, and Arkansas at 12.

Ohio, Utah, and Alaska each edged down a unit to respective totals of 41, 22, and 7. Louisiana and West Virginia each dropped 3 units to 109 and 31, respectively. New Mexico lost 4 units to 96.

Once again activity was dominated in the major US basins by Texas, where the Permian gained 5 units to 567 and the Eagle Ford declined 6 units to 212.