BHI: US rig count posts double-digit gain for second straight week

The US drilling rig count gained 11 units to reach 1,925 rigs working during the week ended Sept. 5, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Land rigs were up 9 units to 1,847 while rigs drilling in inland waters were up 3 units to 13. Offshore rigs edged down a unit to 65.

Oil rigs were also up 9 units, bringing that total to 1,584. Gas rigs gained 2 units to 340. No unclassified rigs were gained or lost, leaving the one remaining untouched.

Directional drilling rigs jumped 14 units to 224. Horizontal drilling rigs were up 3 units to 1,333.

Canada’s rig count increased 5 units to 414, giving the country 25 more units compared with this week a year ago. An 8-unit rise in gas rigs to 186 was cut into by a 3-unit decline in oil rigs to 228.

Major states, basins

As usual, Texas led the major oil- and gas-producing states in rigs gained, adding 7 units to reach 907. New Mexico and Pennsylvania followed not too closely behind with 2-unit gains each, respectively giving them totals of 96 and 57. Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Arkansas each edged up a unit to 213, 57, and 12, respectively.

Unchanged from a week ago were North Dakota at 183, Louisiana at 117, California at 46, Ohio at 41, West Virginia at 29, Utah at 23, and Alaska at 7.

The Texas-New Mexico Permian tallied the most units in the major US basins, reporting a 6-unit increase to 563. The Granite Wash and Cana Woodford each gained 3 units to 68 and 37, respectively. The Mississippian, meanwhile, fell 3 units to 78.