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US rig count continues to climb

Oil & Gas Journal

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 16 -- US drilling continued to increase the week ended Aug. 15, with 23 more rotary rigs for a total of 1,990 working, up from 1,795 during the same period in 2007, said Baker Hughes Inc.

Land operations accounted for the week's increase, up 25 units to 1,895 drilling. Inland water activity was down 2 rigs to 29 still working. Offshore drilling in US waters was unchanged at 66 rigs working, despite a loss of 3 to 63 in the Gulf of Mexico.

Of the rigs working, 395 were drilling for oil, 8 more than the previous week. There were 1,586 rotary rigs drilling for natural gas, up by 15. Of the total, 9 rigs were not classified. Directional drilling increased by 14 rigs to 376. Horizontal drilling increased by 6 to 600.

Among the major producing states, Colorado had the biggest increase of the week, up by 8 rigs to 120 working. Alaska gained 5, making a total of 10 drilling. Wyoming was up 4 to 77 making hole. Louisiana's rig count increased by 3 to 190. North Dakota gained 2 more rigs to 75 working. Oklahoma and California were unchanged at 208 and 45, respectively. Texas was down by 1 rig to 931 drilling. Arkansas lost 2 rigs to 54. New Mexico dropped 7, with 81 still working.