The U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to 97 for the week ended Friday (June 28), while a six-rig decrease in the oil patch sent the combined domestic tally to 581, according to updated numbers published by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).
The 97 active domestic natural gas rigs as of Friday compares with 124 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.
Land drilling decreased by seven rigs week/week overall in the United States, while the Gulf of Mexico was flat with 19 rigs. Horizontal rigs decreased by seven domestically to 518. Vertical drills decreased by one to 18, while total directional rigs increased by one to 45, BKR data show.
The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, increased by 10 rigs overall to finish at 176, up from 167 in the year-earlier period. Changes there included a seven-rig increase in oil-directed drilling, and a net increase of two natural gas-directed rigs.
Looking at changes by region, the Eagle Ford Shale dropped three rigs week/week to finish with 47, versus 61 a year ago. The Permian Basin also lost three rigs to 305, down from 341 in the year-earlier period. Ardmore Woodford saw one unit exit the patch week/week, dropping its total to four, versus zero a year earlier.
On the other side of the ledger, the Mississippian Lime added one rig from zero the prior week, flat year/year, BKR data show.
Counting by state, Texas dropped five rigs, while New Mexico and Oklahoma lost one rig apiece.
