Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count drops to 1,768

The US drilling rig count relinquished 14 units to settle at 1,768 rigs working during the week ended Dec. 20, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

A decline of 16 units in land rigs to 1,687 was nicked by a 2-unit increase in offshore rigs to 61. Rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged from a week ago at 20.

Oil rigs were also down 16 units, settling at 1,395. Gas rigs collected 3 more units to reach 372. Rigs considered unclassified gave up 1 unit to settle at 1 total.

Directional drilling rigs fell 7 units to 223 while horizontal drilling rigs were down 5 to 1,140.

In Canada, a 28-unit drop in oil rigs brought that total to 227 and the country’s overall total to 398. Unchanged from a week ago were gas rigs at 171. Canada has 14 mores rigs compared with this week last year.

Major states, basins

Just three of the major oil- and gas-producing states reported increases. Each with a 2-unit rise, Louisiana and West Virginia reached respective totals of 111 and 36. Pennsylvania gained a single unit to 55. Unchanged from a week ago were Oklahoma at 174, New Mexico at 78, Ohio at 35, Kansas at 31, Utah at 23, and Arkansas at 11. North Dakota and California each lost 1 unit to 173 and 35, respectively. Alaska gave up 2 units to 7. Texas and Wyoming were each down 3 units to 845 and 53, respectively. Colorado’s 6-unit regression to 64 marked the steepest decline.

Light activity in the major US basins was headlined by 3-unit rises in the Marcellus to 88 and Cana Woodford to 35. The Haynesville was up 2 units to 42. The Granite Wash and DJ-Niobrara each lost 3 units to respective totals of 54 and 49. The Williston was down 4 units to 183.