BHI: US rig count pierces 1,900 mark for first time in 2 years

The US drilling rig count surpassed the 1,900 mark for the first time since August 2012, jumping 19 units to 1,908 rigs working during the week ended Aug. 8, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Meanwhile, the average US rig count for July, released by BHI on Aug. 7, totaled 1,876 units, a 15-unit gain from June and a 110-unit gain from July 2013.

The worldwide rig count for July totaled 3,608, a 163-unit gain from June and a 246-unit gain from July 2013.

During the past week, land rigs jumped 18 units to 1,832, while offshore rigs tallied 4 units to reach 62. Rigs drilling in inland waters dropped 3 units to 14.

Oil rigs represented most of the weekly gain, tallying 15 units to reach 1,588. Gas rigs tallied 3 units to 316, and rigs considered unclassified edged up a unit to 4.

Horizontal drilling rigs shot up 19 units to 1,317, while directional drilling rigs dropped 5 units to 213.

Canada’s rig count again diverged from its upward trending neighbor, losing 5 units to 213. Oil rigs constituted 4 of those units, shaving its total to 222. Gas rigs edged down a unit to 165. The country still has 29 more rigs working compared with this week a year ago.

The average Canadian rig count for July totaled 350, a 110-unit rise from June and a 59-unit rise from July 2013.

Major states, basins

California reported the largest gain of the major oil and gas-producing states, collecting 7 rigs to reach 48. North Dakota was up 5 units to 182. Texas increased 4 units to 908. Louisiana and Colorado each gained 3 units to 113 and 71, respectively. Oklahoma and Alaska each rose 2 units to 211 and 8, respectively.

Unchanged from a week ago were Ohio at 43, Utah at 25, and Arkansas at 11.

Down a unit from last week were New Mexico at 94, and Kansas and West Virginia, both at 26. Wyoming dropped 2 units to 48. Pennsylvania decreased 3 units to 51.

Notable movement in the major US basins was comprised of a 5-unit increase in the Williston to 191 and a 5-unit decrease in the Marcellus to 74.