North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was up 5 at 1,013 for the week of April 20, 2018. It is 156 rigs (18.2%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil was up 5 at 820. There are 132 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 80.9 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were unchanged at 192. The number of rigs drilling for gas is 25 higher than last year's level of 167.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 19.2 percent. Gas exploration is up 15.0 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 31.6 percent higher last year and natural gas spot prices are 8.8 percent lower than last year. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity was down 9 at 93 for the week of April 20, 2018 and is 6 (6.1%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 3 at 38 and are 5 (15.2%) higher than last year. Gas directed rig count at 55 was down 6 and is 11 rigs (16.7%) 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.

North American Rig Count				Change		Percent Change
	04/20/2018	04/13/2018	04/21/2017	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,013	1,008	857	5	156	0.5%	18.2%
Offshore	18	16	20	2	(2)	12.5%	-10.0%
Land	995	992	837	3	158	0.3%	18.9%
Inland Waters	4	4	3	0	1	0.0%	33.3%
Oil	820	815	688	5	132	0.6%	19.2%
Percent	80.9%	80.9%	80.3%	0.1%	0.7%
Gas	192	192	167	0	25	0.0%	15.0%
Percent	19.0%	19.0%	19.5%	-0.1%	-0.5%
Directional	70	70	60	0	10	0.0%	16.7%
Horizontal	889	883	718	6	171	0.7%	23.8%
Vertical	54	55	79	-1	-25	-1.8%	-31.6%
Gulf of Mexico	18	16	20	2	-2	12.5%	-10.0%
Gulf Oil	17	15	18	2	-1	13.3%	-5.6%
Percent	94.4%	93.8%	90.0%	0.7%	4.4%
Gulf Gas	1	1	2	0	-1	0.0%	-50.0%
Percent	5.6%	6.3%	10.0%	-0.7%	-4.4%
Canada	93	102	99	(9)	(6)	-8.8%	-6.1%
Oil	38	41	33	(3)	5	-7.3%	15.2%
Percent	40.9%	40.2%	33.3%	0.7%	7.5%
Gas	55	61	66	(6)	(11)	-9.8%	-16.7%
Percent	59.1%	59.8%	66.7%	-0.7%	-7.5%
North America	1,106	1,110	956	(4)	150	-0.4%	15.7%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$67.36	$66.03	$51.18	$1.33	$16.18	2.0%	31.6%
Oil $/mmbtu	$11.61	$11.38	$8.82	$0.23	$2.79	2.0%	31.6%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.82	$2.71	$3.09	$0.10	($0.27)	3.7%	-8.8%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, down 7 to 972 for the month of March 2018 and is 44 rigs (6.2%) higher than last year's 943 rigs.

The total number of rotary rigs targeting oil in March was 753, up 2 from February and 44 (6.2%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were down 10 for the month at 186 and are 4 (2.1%) lower than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 33 are down 11 from last year.

International Oil and Gas Rotary Rig Count					Change		Percent Change
		March 2018	February 2018	March 2017	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
International	Oil	753	751	709	2	44	0.3%	6.2%
	Gas	186	196	190	-10	-4	-5.1%	-2.1%
	Misc.	33	32	44	1	-11	3.1%	-25.0%
	Total	972	979	943	-7	29	-0.7%	3.1%
Europe	Oil	55	52	51	3	4	5.8%	7.8%
	Gas	16	15	19	1	-3	6.7%	-15.8%
	Misc.	18	17	24	1	-6	5.9%	-25.0%
	Total	89	84	94	5	-5	6.0%	-5.3%
Middle East	Oil	301	296	298	5	3	1.7%	1.0%
	Gas	96	100	88	-4	8	-4.0%	9.1%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	397	396	386	1	11	0.3%	2.8%
Africa	Oil	67	65	54	2	13	3.1%	24.1%
	Gas	15	17	16	-2	-1	-11.8%	-6.3%
	Misc.	7	8	10	-1	-3	-12.5%	-30.0%
	Total	89	90	80	-1	9	-1.1%	11.3%
Latin America	Oil	175	179	168	-4	7	-2.2%	4.2%
	Gas	18	20	17	-2	1	-10.0%	5.9%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	193	199	185	-6	8	-3.0%	4.3%
Asian Pacific	Oil	155	159	138	-4	17	-2.5%	12.3%
	Gas	41	44	50	-3	-9	-6.8%	-18.0%
	Misc.	8	7	10	1	-2	14.3%	-20.0%
	Total	204	210	198	-6	6	-2.9%	3.0%

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.