BHI: US rig count jumps 19 units to 876

The US drilling rig count jumped 19 units to reach 876 during the week ended July 24, according to data from Baker Hughes Inc.

The gains came primarily from rigs drilling on land. Land rigs were up 17 units to 841. Those drilling in inland waters also increased, up 2 units to reach 4 rigs working.

During the week, rigs targeting oil jumped 21 units to 659. Gas-directed rigs, meanwhile, were down 2 units to 216. Rigs considered unclassified were unchanged at 1 rig working.

Rigs engaged in horizontal drilling increased 12 units to 662. Directional drilling rigs lost 1 unit to 83.

Rigs drilling offshore and in the Gulf of Mexico were both unchanged this week, both maintaining counts of 31.

Canada’s rig count continued its upward climb, increasing 8 units to an even 200. Its count has now risen in 9 of the last 11 weeks. This week’s gain was spurred by a rebound in gas-directed rigs, which were up 8 units to 102. Oil-directed rigs, meanwhile, were unchanged at 98 rigs working. Canada’s overall count is still down 195 year-over-year.

Among the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas was up 8 units to 374. Louisiana jumped 7 rigs to 76. Oklahoma, at 107 rigs working, was up 2. Four states were up 1 unit each: North Dakota, 69; New Mexico, 51; Pennsylvania, 44; and Ohio, 20. Eight states remain unchanged from last week: Colorado, 39; Wyoming, 21; West Virginia, 18; Alaska, 11; California, 11; Kansas, 11; Utah, 7; and Arkansas, 4.