North American weekly rig count falls as Canadian oil drilling declines

North American drilling activity declined for the week ended Dec. 13 with 780 rotary rigs working in the US and Canada, Baker Hughes officials reported Friday.

Fewer oil-directed rigs working in Canada drove the decline. There were 191 rigs working in Canada this week, a 3-rig decline from last week. Of those, 120 were drilling for oil, 4 fewer than a week ago. Rigs drilling for gas totaled 71 for the week, one more than the previous week. 

The US rig count is unchanged from the previous week at 589, but down 34 units from this time last year. The number of rigs drilling on land increased by a single unit to end the week at 573 rigs working. There were 2 rigs drilling in inland waters, unchanged from last week. One fewer rig was drilling offshore, reducing the total number of rigs working to 14. 

One additional rig was drilling for gas in the US this week, bringing the weekly total to 103. There were 482 units drilling for oil this week, down 19 from this time last year. One fewer unclassified rig was working this week, dropping the total to 4. 

Texas dropped 2 rigs to end the week at 284 working units. Pennsylvania dropped a single unit to 15. New Mexico added 2 rigs to end the week with 104 rigs working. Louisiana added a single unit to bring the state’s rig count to 31 this week.