Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count remains at 1,777

The US drilling rig count was unchanged from a week ago with 1,777 rigs working during the week ended Jan. 24, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

A 1-unit gain in land-based rigs to a total of 1,701 was offset by a single-unit loss in offshore rigs to 56. Rigs drilling in inland waters were unchanged from a week ago at 20.

Oil rigs increased 8 units to 1,416 while gas rigs gave up 9 units to 356. Rigs considered unclassified were up 1 unit to 5.

Horizontal drilling rigs declined 3 units to 1,170 as directional drilling rigs dropped 8 units to settle at 211.

In Canada, a 25-unit rise to 590 consisted of a 15-unit jump in oil rigs to 394 and a 10-unit increase in gas rigs to 196. Canada now has 31 fewer rigs working compared with this week a year ago.

Major states, basins

New Mexico and Kansas were up 2 units apiece to respective totals of 79 and 31, representing the largest gains in a quiet week in the major oil and gas producing states. Adding 1 unit each, Oklahoma reached 187, North Dakota hit 169, Louisiana claimed 111, and Colorado counted 62. Unchanged from a week ago were Wyoming at 53, Ohio at 36, Utah at 26, Arkansas at 12, and Alaska at 11. Pennsylvania and West Virginia were each down a unit to 55 and 33, respectively. Texas lost 2 units to 839. California was down 3 units to 31.

Activity in the major US basins centered on Texas, where the Permian claimed 6 more units to reach 484 while the Eagle Ford relinquished 9 units to 216.