North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was down 7 at 1,052 for the week of June 22, 2018. It is 111 rigs (11.8%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil was down 1 at 862. There are 104 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 81.9 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were down 6 at 186. The number of rigs drilling for gas is 5 higher than last year's level of 186.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 13.7 percent. Gas exploration is up 2.7 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 51.8 percent higher last year and natural gas spot prices are 3.2 percent higher than last year. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity was up 21 at 160 for the week of June 22, 2018 and is 10 (5.9%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were up 16 at 103 and are 5 (5.1%) higher than last year. Gas directed rig count at 57 was up 5 and is 15 rigs (20.8%) 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
	06/22/2018	06/15/2018	06/23/2017	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,052	1,059	941	(7)	111	-0.7%	11.8%
Offshore	18	20	22	(2)	(4)	-10.0%	-18.2%
Land	1,034	1,039	919	(5)	115	-0.5%	12.5%
Inland Waters	2	4	4	(2)	(2)	-50.0%	-50.0%
Oil	862	863	758	(1)	104	-0.1%	13.7%
Percent	81.9%	81.5%	80.6%	0.4%	1.4%
Gas	188	194	183	(6)	5	-3.1%	2.7%
Percent	17.9%	18.3%	19.4%	-0.4%	-1.6%
Directional	62	67	72	-5	-10	-7.5%	-13.9%
Horizontal	930	932	792	-2	138	-0.2%	17.4%
Vertical	60	60	77	0	-17	0.0%	-22.1%
Gulf of Mexico	18	19	21	-1	-3	-5.3%	-14.3%
Gulf Oil	15	16	19	-1	-4	-6.3%	-21.1%
Percent	83.3%	84.2%	90.5%	-0.9%	-7.1%
Gulf Gas	3	3	2	0	1	0.0%	50.0%
Percent	16.7%	15.8%	9.5%	0.9%	7.1%
Canada	160	139	170	21	(10)	15.1%	-5.9%
Oil	103	87	98	16	5	18.4%	5.1%
Percent	64.4%	62.6%	57.6%	1.8%	6.7%
Gas	57	52	72	5	(15)	9.6%	-20.8%
Percent	35.6%	37.4%	42.4%	-1.8%	-6.7%
North America	1,212	1,198	1,111	14	101	1.2%	9.1%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$65.58	$66.21	$43.21	($0.63)	$22.37	-1.0%	51.8%
Oil $/mmbtu	$11.31	$11.42	$7.45	($0.11)	$3.86	-1.0%	51.8%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.96	$2.95	$2.86	$0.00	$0.09	0.2%	3.2%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, down 11 to 967 for the month of May 2018 and is 10 rigs (1.0%) higher than last year's 957 rigs.

The total number of rotary rigs targeting oil in May was 743, down 13 from April and 28 (3.9%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were up 2 for the month at 192 and are 10 (5.0%) lower than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 32 are down 8 from last year.

International Rig Count					Monthly		Annual
		May-2018	Apr-2018	May-2017	Change	Percent	Change	Percent
Total	Oil	743	756	715	-13	-1.7%	28	3.9%
	Gas	192	190	202	2	1.1%	-10	-5.0%
	Misc	32	32	40	0	0.0%	-8	-20.0%
	Total	967	978	957	-11	-1.1%	10	1.0%
Europe	Oil	50	56	51	-6	-10.7%	-1	-2.0%
	Gas	15	16	21	-1	-6.3%	-6	-28.6%
	Mis	15	16	23	-1	-6.3%	-8	-34.8%
	Total	80	88	95	-8	-9.1%	-15	-15.8%
Middle East	Oil	300	300	293	0	0.0%	7	2.4%
	Gas	101	98	98	3	3.1%	3	3.1%
	Mis	0	0	0	0	N.A.	0	N.A.
	Total	401	398	391	3	0.8%	10	2.6%
Africa	Oil	72	71	59	1	1.4%	13	22.0%
	Gas	14	16	16	-2	-12.5%	-2	-12.5%
	Mis	8	7	9	1	14.3%	-1	-11.1%
	Total	94	94	84	0	0.0%	10	11.9%
Latin America	Oil	160	171	173	-11	-6.4%	-13	-7.5%
	Gas	14	17	17	-3	-17.6%	-3	-17.6%
	Mis	0	1	0	-1	-100.0%	0	N.A.
	Total	174	189	190	-15	-7.9%	-16	-8.4%
Asia Pacific	Oil	161	158	139	3	1.9%	22	15.8%
	Gas	48	43	50	5	11.6%	-2	-4.0%
	Mis	9	8	8	1	12.5%	1	12.5%
	Total	218	209	197	9	4.3%	21	10.7%

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.