North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count was unchanged at 2,008 for the week of January 27, 2012. It is 276 rigs (15.9%) higher than last year. 

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil was up 2 at 1,227. There are 416 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil represent 61.0% percent of all drilling activity which is the highest percentage since December 1991.

Rigs directed toward natural gas were down 3 at 777. The number of rigs currently drilling for gas is 136 lower than last year's level of 913.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 51.4 percent. Gas exploration is down 14.9 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot prices is 14.1 percent higher than last year and natural gas spot prices are 42.5 percent lower. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity is up 28 at 682 for the week of January 27, 2012 and is 45 (7.1%) higher than last year's rig count. The number of rigs drilling for oil increased 22 to 492 and is 63 (14.7%) higher than last year while gas directed rig count increased 6 to 190 and is 18 (8.7%) lower than a year ago. Canadian drilling falls rapidly in the spring to avoid environmental damage moving drilling equipment during the spring thaw and rainy season. With wide weather related seasonal swings, even year-over-year comparisons can lead to incorrect conclusions.

North American Rig Count				Change		Percent Change
	01/27/2012	01/20/2012	01/28/2011	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	2,008	2,008	1,732	0	276	0.0%	15.9%
Offshore	42	45	26	(3)	16	-6.7%	61.5%
Land	1,966	1,963	1,706	3	260	0.2%	15.2%
Inland Waters	17	16	17	1	0	6.3%	0.0%
Oil	1,225	1,223	809	2	416	0.2%	51.4%
Percent	61.0%	60.9%	46.7%	0.1%	14.3%
Gas	777	780	913	(3)	(136)	-0.4%	-14.9%
Percent	38.7%	38.8%	52.7%	-0.1%	-14.0%
Directional	217	206	237	11	-20	5.3%	-8.4%
Horizontal	1,185	1,183	973	2	212	0.2%	21.8%
Vertical	606	619	522	-13	84	-2.1%	16.1%
Gulf of Mexico	42	45	26	-3	16	-6.7%	61.5%
Gulf Oil	24	24	6	0	18	0.0%	300.0%
Percent	57.1%	53.3%	23.1%	3.8%	34.1%
Gulf Gas	18	21	20	-3	-2	-14.3%	-10.0%
Percent	42.9%	46.7%	76.9%	-3.8%	-34.1%
Canada	682	654	637	28	45	4.3%	7.1%
Oil	492	470	429	22	63	4.7%	14.7%
Percent	72.1%	71.9%	67.3%	0.3%	4.8%
Gas	190	184	208	6	(18)	3.3%	-8.7%
Percent	27.9%	28.1%	32.7%	-0.3%	-4.8%
North America	2,690	2,662	2,369	28	321	1.1%	13.6%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$99.11	$100.04	$86.85	($0.93)	$12.26	-0.9%	14.1%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.561	$2.395	$4.453	$0.166	($1.892)	6.9%	-42.5%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, decreased 5 to 1,180 for the month of December 2011 and is 62 rigs (5.5%) above last year's 1,118 rigs.

The total number of rotary rigs worldwide in December was 3,612 down 71 from November and 385 (11.9%) higher than last year.

Worldwide Rotary Rig Count				Change		Percent Change
	December 2011	November 2011	December 2012	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
Latin America	438	422	385	16	53	3.8%	13.8%
Europe	112	122	105	(10)	7	-8.2%	6.7%
Africa	79	86	79	(7)	0	-8.1%	0.0%
Middle East	304	308	267	(4)	37	-1.3%	13.9%
Far East	247	247	282	0	(35)	0.0%	-12.4%
International	1,180	1,185	1,118	(5)	62	-0.4%	5.5%
Canada	429	487	398	(58)	31	-11.9%	7.8%
United States	2,003	2,011	1,711	(8)	292	-0.4%	17.1%
World	3,612	3,683	3,227	(71)	385	-1.9%	11.9%

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.