North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was up 2 at 1,051 for the week of February 15, 2019. It is 76 rigs (7.8%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil is up 3 at 857. There are 59 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 81.5 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were down 1 at 194. The number of rigs drilling for gas is 17 higher than last year.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 7.4 percent. Gas exploration is up 9.6 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 12.1 percent lower than last year and natural gas spot prices are 4.5 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 16 at 224 for the week of February 15, 2019 and is 66 (30.3%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 6 at 152 and are 66 (30.3%) lower than last year. Gas directed rig count at 72 was down 10 and is 28 rigs (28.0%) 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
	02/15/2019	02/08/2019	02/16/2018	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,051	1,049	975	2	76	0.2%	7.8%
Offshore	21	19	18	2	3	10.5%	16.7%
Land	1,030	1,030	957	0	73	0.0%	7.6%
Inland Waters	2	1	1	1	1	100.0%	100.0%
Oil	857	854	798	3	59	0.4%	7.4%
Percent	81.5%	81.4%	81.8%	0.1%	-0.3%
Gas	194	195	177	(1)	17	-0.5%	9.6%
Percent	18.5%	18.6%	18.2%	-0.1%	0.3%
Directional	70	58	71	12	-1	20.7%	-1.4%
Horizontal	915	923	839	-8	76	-0.9%	9.1%
Vertical	66	68	65	-2	1	-2.9%	1.5%
Gulf of Mexico	21	19	18	2	3	10.5%	16.7%
Gulf Oil	17	15	16	2	1	13.3%	6.3%
Percent	81.0%	78.9%	88.9%	2.0%	-7.9%
Gulf Gas	4	4	2	0	2	0.0%	100.0%
Percent	19.0%	21.1%	11.1%	-2.0%	7.9%
Canada	224	240	318	(16)	(94)	-6.7%	-29.6%
Oil	152	158	218	(6)	(66)	-3.8%	-30.3%
Percent	67.9%	65.8%	68.6%	2.0%	-0.7%
Gas	72	82	100	(10)	(28)	-12.2%	-28.0%
Percent	32.1%	34.2%	31.4%	-2.0%	0.7%
North America	1,275	1,289	1,293	(14)	(18)	-1.1%	-1.4%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$53.13	$53.53	$60.44	($0.40)	($7.31)	-0.7%	-12.1%
Oil $/mmbtu	$9.16	$9.23	$10.42	($0.07)	($1.26)	-0.7%	-12.1%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.64	$2.63	$2.52	$0.01	$0.11	0.4%	4.5%

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Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, is down 2 to 1,023 for the month of January 2019 and is 63 rigs (6.6%) higher than last year's 960 rigs.

The number of rotary rigs targeting oil in December was 806 unchanged from December and is 69 (9.4%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were up 2 for the month at 191 and are 1 higher than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 26 are down 4 for the month and are 7 lower than last year.

International Rig Count					Change		Percent Change
		January 2019	December 2018	January 2018	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
International	Oil	806	806	737	0	69	0.0%	9.4%
	Gas	191	189	190	2	1	1.1%	0.5%
	Misc.	26	30	33	-4	-7	-13.3%	-21.2%
	Total	1,023	1,025	960	-2	63	-0.2%	6.6%
Europe	Oil	55	64	51	-9	4	-14.1%	7.8%
	Gas	20	18	15	2	5	11.1%	33.3%
	Misc.	11	13	18	-2	-7	-15.4%	-38.9%
	Total	86	95	84	-9	2	-9.5%	2.4%
Middle East	Oil	314	305	290	9	24	3.0%	8.3%
	Gas	87	88	93	-1	-6	-1.1%	-6.5%
	Misc.	1	1	0	0	1	0.0%	N.A.
	Total	402	394	383	8	19	2.0%	5.0%
Africa	Oil	88	87	56	1	32	1.1%	57.1%
	Gas	13	12	17	1	-4	8.3%	-23.5%
	Misc.	8	9	7	-1	1	-11.1%	14.3%
	Total	109	108	80	1	29	0.9%	36.3%
Latin America	Oil	173	177	172	-4	1	-2.3%	0.6%
	Gas	21	20	19	1	2	5.0%	10.5%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	194	197	191	-3	3	-1.5%	1.6%
Asian Pacific	Oil	176	173	168	3	8	1.7%	4.8%
	Gas	50	51	46	-1	4	-2.0%	8.7%
	Misc.	6	7	8	-1	-2	-14.3%	-25.0%
	Total	232	231	222	1	10	0.4%	4.5%

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.