North America Goes Back to Losing Rigs

North America dropped four rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes’ latest North America rotary rig count, which was released on August 22.

The U.S. cut one rig and Canada cut three rigs week on week, taking the total North America rig count down to 718, comprising 538 rigs from the U.S. and 180 rigs from Canada, the count outlined.

Of the total U.S. rig count of 538, 523 rigs are categorized as land rigs, 13 are categorized as offshore rigs, and two are categorized as inland water rigs. The total U.S. rig count is made up of 411 oil rigs, 122 gas rigs, and five miscellaneous rigs, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which revealed that the U.S. total comprises 471 horizontal rigs, 54 directional rigs, and 13 vertical rigs.

Week on week, the U.S. offshore and inland water rig counts remained unchanged and the country’s land rig count decreased by one, Baker Hughes highlighted. The U.S. gas and miscellaneous rig counts remained the same and the country’s oil rig count reduced by one, week on week, the count showed. The country’s directional rig count dropped by one, week on week, and its vertical and horizontal rig counts remained unchanged during the same period, the count revealed.

A major state variances subcategory included in the rig count showed that, week on week, Texas dropped two rigs, North Dakota dropped one rig, and Louisiana added two rigs. A major basin variances subcategory included in Baker Hughes’ rig count showed that, week on week, the Williston basin dropped one rig.

Canada’s total rig count of 180 is made up of 123 oil rigs, 56 gas rigs, and one miscellaneous rig, Baker Hughes pointed out. Week on week, the country’s oil rig count dropped by three, its gas rig count decreased by one, and its miscellaneous rig count increased by one, the count revealed.

The total North America rig count is down 86 rigs compared to year ago levels, according to Baker Hughes’ count, which showed that the U.S. has cut 47 rigs and Canada has cut 39 rigs, year on year. The U.S. has dropped 72 oil rigs and added 25 gas rigs, while Canada has dropped 30 oil rigs and 10 gas rigs, and added one miscellaneous rig, year on year, the count outlined.

In its previous rig count, which was released on August 15, Baker Hughes revealed that North America added three rigs week on week. Although the total U.S. rig count remained unchanged week on week, Canada added three rigs during the same period, that count highlighted. Baker Hughes’ August 8 rig count revealed that North America added two rigs week on week.

In its August 1 rig count, Baker Hughes showed that North America dropped seven rigs week on week. Its July 25 rig count revealed that North America added eight rigs week on week, its July 18 count showed that North America added 17 rigs week on week, its July 11 rig count showed that North America added nine rigs week on week, and its July 3 count highlighted that North America added three rigs week on week.

In its June 27 rig count, Baker Hughes revealed that North America dropped six rigs week on week. The company’s June 20 rig count showed that the total North America rig count remained unchanged week on week, its June 13 rig count showed that North America added 20 rigs week on week, and its June 6 rig count showed that North America cut two rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ May 30 rig count revealed that North America dropped five rigs week on week, its May 23 count showed that North America dropped 17 rigs week on week, and its May 16 rig count showed that North America added five rigs week on week. The company’s May 9 rig count revealed that North America cut 12 rigs week on week, its May 2 count revealed that North America dropped 11 rigs week on week, and its April 25 count showed that North America dropped four rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ April 17 count showed that North America dropped two rigs week on week, its April 11 rig count revealed that North America cut 22 rigs week on week, the company’s April 4 rig count showed that North America cut 12 rigs week on week, its March 28 count revealed that North America cut 18 rigs week on week, and its March 21 rig count also revealed that North America cut 18 rigs week on week. Baker Hughes’ March 14 count showed that North America dropped 35 rigs week on week and its March 7 rig count revealed North America cut 15 rigs week on week.

In its February 28 rig count, Baker Hughes showed that North America added five rigs week on week. Its February 21 count revealed that North America added three rigs week on week, its February 14 rig count showed that North America dropped two rigs week on week, and its January 31 rig count showed that North America added 19 rigs week on week.

The company’s January 24 rig count revealed that North America added 12 rigs week on week, its January 17 count showed that North America added nine rigs week on week, and its January 10 rig count outlined that North America added 117 rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes’ January 3 rig count revealed that North America dropped one rig week on week and its December 27 rig count showed that North America dropped 71 rigs week on week.

Baker Hughes, which has issued rotary rig counts since 1944, describes the figures as an important business barometer for the drilling industry and its suppliers. The company notes that working rig location information is provided in part by Enverus.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com