The U.S. saw a jump in oil and gas rig activity in the past week, and it was attributed to more drilling for natural gas as prices continued to climb. At the same time, Oklahoma’s rig activity remained unchanged.
The nation’s rig count, according to Baker Hughes in its Rig Count released last Friday, grew to 544 rigs, with an additional nine gas rigs for a total of 117. But the number of oil rigs declined by two to 422, while the number of what are classified as miscellaneous rigs was unchanged at five rigs.
The U.S. today is 42 rigs down from a year ago, when the national total was 586. The decline included 55 oil rigs, while there was a gain of 14 gas rigs and a loss of one miscellaneous rig.
Oklahoma held steady at 42 rigs, compared to 33 a year ago.
Texas reported a loss of two rigs, for a total of 253, but New Mexico added four to reach 94. North Dakota was unchanged at 29 and Louisiana added two rigs for a total of 33. Colorado’s total grew by one, to nine rigs, and according to the Red Top Rig Report, Kansas jumped by nine to reach a total of 22 rigs.
Alaska remained at 10 rigs and California stayed at six. Utah’s count grew by one for a total of 10. West Virginia was unchanged at seven, and Wyoming’s count of 17 remained the same as a week ago. Ohio continued with 11 rigs and Pennsylvania saw no change with a rig count of 17.