Active Rigs in US Higher Again: Baker Hughes

The number of active rigs in the US rose again in the week just ended, oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said in its November 13 report, the ninth consecutive week the count has risen.

As of November 13, 312 rigs were actively drilling in the US onshore regions, up from 300 the previous week. The active count for oil rigs rose by 10 – all but one in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico – to 236, while two gas rigs were added, both in the Marcellus shale gas play, bringing the national total to 73. The number of active rigs classified as “miscellaneous” was unchanged at three.

Rotary rigs have been going back to work steadily since the week ended September 11, when 254 rigs were listed in the active count. On March 6, prior to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the outbreak of the crude oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, Baker Hughes counted 793 active rigs in the US.

In Canada, the active count rose by three to 89. All were in Alberta: one additional rig put to work in Saskatchewan was offset by one rig idled in BC. Of the 89 active rigs, 50 are drilling for gas and 39 for oil. On March 6 this year, 203 rigs were active, 134 drilling for oil and 69 drilling for gas.