Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count jumps to 1,809

The US drilling rig count increased 17 units to 1,809 rigs working during the week ended Mar. 14, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. The 40-unit rise over the past 2 weeks has enabled the US the eclipse the 1,800 mark for the first time since December 2012.

Land-based rigs received an 18-unit boost to 1,737 while offshore rigs edged down a unit to 54. Rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged from a week ago at 18.

Mirroring the rise in land rigs, oil rigs gained 18 units to 1,461. Gas rigs dropped a unit to 344. Rigs considered unclassified were unchanged at 4.

Horizontal drilling rigs climbed 10 units to 1,212 as directional drilling rigs rose 6 units to 204.

It was a different story in Canada, where its rig count plummeted 65 units to 522, a vast majority of which were oil rigs. The 62-unit drop in those rigs to 327 came with a 3-unit decrease in gas rigs to 195.

Major states, basins

North Dakota boasted this week’s largest increase in the major oil and gas-producing states, adding 7 units to reach a total of 177. Tallying 4 units each, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico reported respective totals of 868, 186, and 85. Pennsylvania edged up 1 unit to 54.

Unchanged from a week ago were Louisiana at 103, Colorado at 61, Wyoming at 53, Ohio at 41, Utah at 27, West Virginia at 25, and Arkansas at 12.

Just three states took losses with Alaska taking the biggest hit, relinquishing 3 units to 11. Kansas was down 2 units to 29. California dropped 1 unit to 40.

In the major US basins, the Permian, with an 8-unit gain to 514, again boasted the largest rise. The Williston was right behind with a 7-unit increase to 184. Three-unit declines, meanwhile, came in the Mississippian and Barnett, which now total 70 and 26, respectively.