WTRG Economics home page Rotary and Workover Rig Counts
Weekly Rotary Rig Count
Monthly International Rotary
and Workover Rig Counts
Graphs
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North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count was down 3 at 1,839 for the week of May 2, 2008 and is 5.3 percent higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil is down 3 at 357. The number of rigs targeting oil is 75 greater than last year's level of activity. Rigs currently drilling for oil represent 19.4% percent of total drilling activity.

Rigs directed toward natural gas were down unchanged at 1,473. The number of rigs currently drilling for gas is 11 greater than last year's level of 1,462.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the US is up 26.6 percent. Gas exploration is up 0.8 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot prices is 81.8 percent higher than last year and natural gas spot prices are 42.7 percent higher. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity*  was up 7 at 95 for the week of May 2, 2008 and is 6 greater than last year's rig count. Canadian drilling falls rapidly in the spring to avoid environmental damage during the spring thaw and rainy season.

*The Canadian drilling industry experiences wide seasonal swings and even year over year comparisons can lead to incorrect conclusions.
North American Rig Count




Change
Percent Change

05/02/08 04/25/08 05/04/07 Weekly Annual Weekly Annual
Total U.S. 1,839 1,842 1,747 (3) 92 -0.2% 5.3%
Offshore 69 67 74 2 (5) 3.0% -6.8%
Land 1,770 1,775 1,673 (5) 97 -0.3% 5.8%
Inland Waters 23 25 30 (2) (7) -8.0% -23.3%
Oil 357 360 282 (3) 75 -0.8% 26.6%
Percent 19.4% 19.5% 16.1% -0.1% 3.3%

Gas 1,473 1,473 1,462 0 11 0.0% 0.8%
Percent 80.1% 80.0% 83.7% 0.1% -3.6%

Directional 372 374 374 -2 -2 -0.5% -0.5%
Horizontal 515 511 371 4 144 0.8% 38.8%
Gulf of Mexico 67 64 73 3 -6 4.7% -8.2%
Gulf Oil 1 1 0 0 1 0.0% n.a.
Percent 1.5% 1.6% 0.0% -0.1% 1.5%

Gulf Gas 66 63 73 3 -7 4.8% -9.6%
Percent 98.5% 98.4% 100.0% 0.1% -1.5%

Canada 95 88 89 7 6 8.0% 6.7%
Oil 33 24 46 9 (13) 37.5% -28.3%
Percent 34.7% 27.3% 51.7% 7.5% -16.9%

Gas 62 64 43 (2) 19 -3.1% 44.2%
Percent 65.3% 72.7% 48.3% -7.5% 16.9%

North America 1,934 1,930 1,836 4 98 0.2% 5.3%

Monthly: International and Workover Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada,  was up 22 to 1,054 for the month of March, 2008 and is 60 rigs or 6.0 percent above last year's 994.

The total number of rotary rigs worldwide in February was 3,259 down 158 from February and 124 higher than last year.

US workover rig count for June, 2007 was down 9 to 1,548 and is 100 rigs below last year's level of 1,657.

Source: Baker-Hughes
Change
Percent Change

Mar, 2008 Feb 2008 Mar, 2007 Monthly Annual Monthly Annual
International Rig Count* 1,054 1,032 994 22 60 2.1% 6.0%
World Rig Count 3,259 3,417 3,135 (158) 124 -4.6% 4.0%
U.S. Workover Rig Count** 1,548 1,557 1,647 (9) (99) -0.6% -6.0%
*International Excludes the U.S. and Canada
**Baker Hughes discontinued their workover rig count. The latest data reported is for June, 2007.

The Rig Count page will be updated as the data becomes available. US rotary and Canadian rig counts are updated weekly.  International, world and workover rig counts are updated mid month.  The oil price shown in all long term graphs and all but the short term graph of US and Canadian rotary rig counts is US average wellhead price. The price in the short term US and Canadian rotary rig count graphs is WTI spot.
Long term
Short Term
Rotary Rig Count - United States
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Rotary Rig Count - United States Weekly
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Rotary Rig Count - Canada
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Rotary Rig Count - Canada Weekly
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Rotary Rig Count - International
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Rotary Rig Count - International
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Rotary Rig Count - World
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Rotary Rig Count - World
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Workover Rig Count
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Workover Rig Count
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