North America rig numbers fall as oil drilling declines in Canada

Total drilling activity in North America dropped the week ended Sept. 20, with 799 rotary rigs working, reported Baker Hughes, Houston. That represents 9 fewer rigs working compared with last week and 21 fewer that the same time last year.

In the US, a total of 588 rigs were working, 2 fewer than last week, and 42 fewer than this time last year. A total of 18 rigs were working in the Gulf of Mexico, 1 rig down from last week. US onshore activity decreased by 1 rig to 567 units working, 41 fewer than this time last year.

Four states decreased activity this week. New Mexico, Louisiana, Colorado, and Utah each dropped a single rig to end the week with respective counts of 106, 42, 11, and 11. Texas increased its rig count by 2 units, ending the week with 276 rigs running.

Canada had 211 rigs working this week, down 7 from the previous week, but up 21 from the year-ago period. Canada dropped 6 oil-directed rigs and 1 gas-directed rigs this week to land at counts of 144 and 66, respectively.