North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was down 10 at 1,016 for the week of March 22, 2019. It is 21 rigs (2.1%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil is down 9 at 824. There are 20 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 81.1 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were down 1 at 192. The number of rigs drilling for gas is 2 higher than last year.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 2.5 percent. Gas exploration is down 0.5 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 7.3 percent lower than last year and natural gas spot prices are 8.2 percent higher than last year. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity was down 56 at 105 for the week of March 22, 2019 and is 56 (34.8%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 49 at 49 and are 44 (47.3%) lower than last year. Gas directed rig count at 56 was down 7 and is 12 rigs (17.6%) lower than last year. Canadian drilling falls rapidly in the spring to avoid environmental damage moving drilling equipment during the spring thaw and rainy season. With large weather related seasonal swings, even year-over-year comparisons can lead to incorrect conclusions. Also, Canadians take their holidays more serious than their counterparts in the U.S. and rig count drops.

North American Rig Count				Change		Percent Change
	03/22/2019	03/15/2019	03/23/2018	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,016	1,026	995	(10)	21	-1.0%	2.1%
Offshore	20	22	13	(2)	7	-9.1%	53.8%
Land	996	1,004	982	(8)	14	-0.8%	1.4%
Inland Waters	3	3	3	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Oil	824	833	804	(9)	20	-1.1%	2.5%
Percent	81.1%	81.2%	80.8%	-0.1%	0.3%
Gas	192	193	190	(1)	2	-0.5%	1.1%
Percent	18.9%	18.8%	19.1%	0.1%	-0.2%
Directional	63	65	62	-2	1	-3.1%	1.6%
Horizontal	900	907	870	-7	30	-0.8%	3.4%
Vertical	53	54	63	-1	-10	-1.9%	-15.9%
Gulf of Mexico	20	22	13	-2	7	-9.1%	53.8%
Gulf Oil	16	18	12	-2	4	-11.1%	33.3%
Percent	80.0%	81.8%	92.3%	-1.8%	-12.3%
Gulf Gas	4	4	1	0	3	0.0%	300.0%
Percent	20.0%	18.2%	7.7%	1.8%	12.3%
Canada	105	161	161	(56)	(56)	-34.8%	-34.8%
Oil	49	98	93	(49)	(44)	-50.0%	-47.3%
Percent	46.7%	60.9%	57.8%	-14.2%	-11.1%
Gas	56	63	68	(7)	(12)	-11.1%	-17.6%
Percent	53.3%	39.1%	42.2%	14.2%	11.1%
North America	1,121	1,187	1,156	(66)	(35)	-5.6%	-3.0%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$59.47	$57.82	$64.19	$1.66	($4.71)	2.9%	-7.3%
Oil $/mmbtu	$10.25	$9.97	$11.07	$0.29	($0.81)	2.9%	-7.3%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.85	$2.81	$2.63	$0.04	$0.22	1.5%	8.2%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, is up 4 to 1,027 for the month of February 2019 and is 48 rigs (4.9%) higher than last year's 979 rigs.

The number of rotary rigs targeting oil in February was 817 up 11 from January and is 66 (8.8%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were down 6 for the month at 185 and are 11 lower than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 25 are down 1 for the month and are 7 lower than last year.

International Rig Count					Change		Percent Change
		February 2019	January 2019	February 2018	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
International	Oil	817	806	751	11	66	1.4%	8.8%
	Gas	185	191	196	-6	-11	-3.1%	-5.6%
	Misc.	25	26	32	-1	-7	-3.8%	-21.9%
	Total	1027	1023	979	4	48	0.4%	4.9%
Europe	Oil	64	55	52	9	12	16.4%	23.1%
	Gas	19	20	15	-1	4	-5.0%	26.7%
	Misc.	11	11	17	0	-6	0.0%	-35.3%
	Total	94	86	84	8	10	9.3%	11.9%
Middle East	Oil	317	314	296	3	21	1.0%	7.1%
	Gas	81	87	100	-6	-19	-6.9%	-19.0%
	Misc.	0	1	0	-1	0	-100.0%	N.A.
	Total	398	402	396	-4	2	-1.0%	0.5%
Africa	Oil	91	88	65	3	26	3.4%	40.0%
	Gas	14	13	17	1	-3	7.7%	-17.6%
	Misc.	8	8	8	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Total	113	109	90	4	23	3.7%	25.6%
Latin America	Oil	162	173	179	-11	-17	-6.4%	-9.5%
	Gas	20	21	20	-1	0	-4.8%	0.0%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	182	194	199	-12	-17	-6.2%	-8.5%
Asian Pacific	Oil	183	176	159	7	24	4.0%	15.1%
	Gas	51	50	44	1	7	2.0%	15.9%
	Misc.	6	6	7	0	-1	0.0%	-14.3%
	Total	240	232	210	8	30	3.4%	14.3%

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.