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.
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