06 April 2014, News Wires – The number of rigs drilling in the US rose by six this week to total 1818, according to Houston-based services giant Baker Hughes.
Oil-directed rigs continued to trend up, gaining 11 this week to total 1498 – 141 more than a year ago. Gas rigs fell by two to total 316, 59 fewer than a year ago.
Oil plays in Texas continued to drive rig activity. The Eagle Ford gained one rig for 224 and the Permian added six for 524. Texas gained 11 total rigs for a count of 877.
Two rigs were added to state of New Mexico, which hosts the Delaware sub-basin of the Permian. The total there was 90. The Permian hit a record high post-shale-boom rig counts this year and keeps climbing.
The Granite Wash in the Texas Panhandle gained three rigs for 58.
The Marcellus shale also gained three rigs to rise to a total of 79. Pennsylvania, which hosts the bulk of the Marcellus, gained three rigs for a total of 54.
The Utica shale in Ohio was flat on 39.
The Williston basin, where a move to pad-drilling has reduced the need for additional rigs, was flat on 185. That is one less than a year ago. Oklahoma gained five rigs to total 193.
Louisiana was down six rigs on 99. California lost one for 38. Alaska lost three for 11. Three net rigs left the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 46.
Canada lost 63 rigs for a total of 235.
– Upstream