BHI: North Dakota, Williston spur continued decline in US rig count

The US drilling rig count dropped 18 units to settle at 1,875 rigs working during the week ended Dec. 19, pushed down by losses in North Dakota and the Williston basin, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. That total, however, was trumped by the 40-unit drop in neighboring Canada.

The US has lost 45 units in the last two weeks (OGJ Online, Dec. 12, 2014).

During the week, US land rigs fell 15 units to 1,805, down 43 units from two weeks ago. Offshore rigs fell 2 units to 58 while rigs drilling in inland waters edged down a unit to 12.

Oil rigs lost 10 units to 1,536, down 39 units from two weeks ago. Gas rigs lost 8 units to 338. Rigs considered unclassified remained at 1 unit working.

Horizontal drilling rigs declined 11 units to 1,356. Directional drilling rigs edged down a unit to 195.

Canada now has 391 rigs working, 7 fewer than this week a year ago. Of the 40 units lost, 25 were oil rigs and 15 were gas rigs, which respectively total 190 and 201.

Major states, basins

North Dakota and the Williston were respectively first and second in losses in the major US oil- and gas-producing states and basins during the week, each relinquishing 7 units to respective totals of 172 and 181.

Oklahoma lost the second-most rigs of the states, falling 6 units to 205. Texas, which plummeted 24 units last week, merely lost 4 units to 868, slowed in part by gains in the Barnett. Louisiana declined 3 units to 110. Ohio and West Virginia each decreased 2 units to 45 and 31, respectively.

Unchanged from a week ago were Colorado at 68, Wyoming at 58, California at 45, and Utah at 23.

Pennsylvania and Alaska each edged up a unit to 55 and 11, respectively. New Mexico and Kansas each gained 2 units to 102 and 30, respectively. Arkansas led the states with a 3-unit increase to 110.

For the second consecutive week, the Permian led the major basins in losses, falling 9 units to 539. The Permian has lost 29 units in the last two weeks.

The Barnett and Fayetteville, meanwhile, each gained 3 units to respective totals of 26 and 9.