The total U.S. rig count increased by eight to end the week of July 28 with 958 rigs compared to last week, according to the latest report from Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE: BHGE). That’s up from 463 a year ago.
The increase was led by the mighty Permian Basin, which saw five more rigs operating this week compared to last week to bring its count up to 379. The count is more than double the 172 rigs that were pumping about this time last year, the report showed.
This week’s rig count also showed gains in the Cana Woodford, where the count increased by four to 63. Other basins putting more rigs to work this week included the: Barnett, Granite Wash, Marcellus, Mississippian and Utica. Each added one rig, while the D-J-Niobrara Basin dropped one rig this week. The rig counts in other major basins tracked by Baker Hughes were unchanged.
The U.S. oil rig count increased by two this week to 766, while rigs targeting natural gas jumped by six to 192. Last year about this time there were 374 oil rigs operating in the U.S. and 86 gas rigs, according to Baker Hughes’ report.
Farther north, the Canadian oil rig count saw a double-digit increase, rising by 11 to 129 for the week, while the country’s gas rig count inched up by three to 91.
The Gulf of Mexico rig count held steady at 23 this week.
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