Rig numbers across the U.S. and in Oklahoma took another dip in the past week with a loss in oil rig activity and in natural gas exploration. At the same time, the rig numbers revealed a slow growth of gas drilling activity in the past year.
The Baker Hughes report released on Friday showed a decline of 4 to 555 rigs and the drop included 3 oil rigs, leaving 439 in the active column. The number of gas rigs fell one to 113. The number of miscellaneous rigs was unchanged at 3.
The number of offshore drilling rigs dropped by 3 to 10.
The U.S. total is down 35 from a year ago when Baker Hughes reported 590 active oil and gas rigs. The decline included a loss of 49 oil rigs but a gain of 15 gas rigs while the miscellaneous count fell one.
Oklahoma recorded a drop of one rig, leaving 49 active throughout the state. A year ago, the state had 37 active rigs. The total compared to 262 in Texas where the count declined by 2.
New Mexico slipped by one to 90 rigs and North Dakota remained at 30 with no change in its count. Louisiana stayed at 31 rigs.
The Red Top Rig Report published in Kansas by the Independent Oil and Gas Service showed a loss of one rig, leaving 12 active in the state. Colorado was unchanged with a total of 8 rigs and Wyoming remained at 21 active oil and gas rigs.
Alaska stayed at 10 rigs and California saw no change with a count of 6. Ohio’s count of 11 was unchanged. So was Pennsylvania’s total of 18. Utah’s count of 10 rigs remained the same as a week ago and West Virginia continued with 7 rigs.