17 March 2013 – The number of rigs drilling in the US rose by 24 this week for a total of 1776, according to data from Houston-based services giant Baker Hughes.
In an unusual weekly tally, the gains were seen entirely in gas-directed rigs for a total of 431, while oil rigs remained flat on 1341.
Gas rigs retreated from a 14-year low a week earlier and showed the highest one-week jump since January 2010.
The increase was likely a reflection of warmer weather and rising gas prices, which are up 17% this year.
Directional rigs gained the most, adding 14 for a total of 209, according to Baker Hughes. Horizontal rigs were still dominant on 1131, a gain of one.
The gas fields in Louisiana and Oklahoma appeared to be driving the overall increase. Louisiana gained eight rigs for 114 and Oklahoma gained seven for 187.
Texas was a modest gainer, adding three for a total of 838. New Mexico added two for 80.
Arkansas was flat on 15. Mississippi was flat on 11.
Kansas gained one for 24.
Wyoming gained one for 46. Colorado was flat on 57. Utah was flat on 29.
North Dakota gained one for 177. Montana was flat on 11.
Pennsylvania gained two for 74. Ohio was flat on 27.
West Virginia, the only significant drilling state to fall this week, lost one for 21.
California was flat on 39. Alaska was flat on 10.
Arizona gained one rig, its first since the end of last year.
*Luke Johnson, Upstreamonline.
