Baker Hughes: US drilling rig count declines to 1,854

The US drilling rig count lost 7 units to settle at 1,854 rigs working during the week ended May 2, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

All 7 units were land-based oil rigs. There are now 1,786 land rigs in operation. Offshore rigs and rigs drilling in inland waters are unchanged at 54 and 14, respectively.

Oil rigs now represent 1,527 units working. Gas rigs and rigs considered unclassified are unchanged at 323 and 4, respectively.

Horizontal drilling rigs gained 2 units to 1,247 while directional drilling rigs lost 7 units to 211.

In Canada, a 5-unit loss to 163 was comprised of a 3-unit drop in gas rigs to 96 and 2-unit subtraction in oil rigs to 67. Canada now has 42 more rigs compared with this week a year ago.

Major states, basins

Just three of the major oil- and gas-producing states reported increases in their rigs counts. Oklahoma was up 3 units to 195. Louisiana tallied 2 units to 114. West Virginia edged up 1 unit to 28.

Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, Utah, and Alaska were each unchanged from a week ago, remaining at respective totals of 64, 35, 31, 27, and 9.

New Mexico, Wyoming, and Arkansas each edged down a unit to 90, 49, and 11, respectively. Texas and California each relinquished 2 units to respective totals of 892 and 39. North Dakota and Pennsylvania each decreased 3 units to 176 and 58, respectively.

The largest loss in the major US basins occurred in the Williston, where a 4-unit reduction brought its total to 183. The Granite Wash fell 3 units to 61. After gaining 6 units last week, the Marcellus dropped 2 units to 85.