Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count drops to 1,803

After consecutive weeks of significant gains, the US drilling rig count lost 6 units to 1,803 rigs working during the week ended Mar. 21, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land-based rigs lost 7 units to 1,730 total as offshore rigs gained 1 unit to 55. Rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged from a week ago at 18.

Rigs targeting gas took the largest hit, falling 18 units to 326. This overshadowed a 12-unit jump in oil rigs to 1,473. Rigs considered unclassified were unchanged at 4.

Directional drilling rigs rose 9 units to 213 while horizontal drilling rigs fell 6 units to 1,206.

Canada’s rig count took a steep dive, plummeting 133 units to a total of 389. Of those, 117 were oil rigs, bringing that total to 210, and 16 were gas rigs, bringing that total to 179. However, despite this decrease, Canada has 52 more rigs that the comparable week a year ago.

Major states, basins

More of the major oil- and gas-producing states reported gains than losses, headlined by Louisiana’s 5-unit rise to 108. California increased 3 units 43. North Dakota tallied 2 units to 179. Up 1 unit apiece were New Mexico and Utah, at respective counts of 86 and 28.

Unchanged from a week ago were Colorado at 61, Wyoming at 53, Kansas at 29, Arkansas at 12, and Alaska at 11.

Ohio and West Virginia each dropped 2 units to 39 and 23, respectively. Oklahoma fell 3 units to 183.

In the major US basins, the Mississippian led all with a 3-unit addition to reach 73. The Granite Wash collected 2 units to 54. Meanwhile, The Cana Woodford declined 3 units to 32. The Eagle Ford saw the steepest decline, falling 5 units to 219.