North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was up 13 at 1,059 for the week of May 25, 2018. It is 151 rigs (16.6%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil was up 15 at 859. There are 137 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 81.1 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were down 2 at 198. The number of rigs drilling for gas is 13 higher than last year's level of 180.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 19.0 percent. Gas exploration is up 7.0 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 42.7 percent higher last year and natural gas spot prices are 10.7 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 2 at 81 for the week of May 25, 2018 and is 12 (12.9%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 3 at 35 and are 5 (12.5%) lower than last year. Gas directed rig count at 46 was up 1 and is 7 rigs (13.2%) 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
	05/25/2018	05/18/2018	05/26/2017	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,059	1,046	908	13	151	1.2%	16.6%
Offshore	19	19	23	0	(4)	0.0%	-17.4%
Land	1,040	1,027	885	13	155	1.3%	17.5%
Inland Waters	4	4	4	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Oil	859	844	722	15	137	1.8%	19.0%
Percent	81.1%	80.7%	79.5%	0.4%	1.6%
Gas	198	200	185	(2)	13	-1.0%	7.0%
Percent	18.7%	19.1%	20.4%	-0.4%	-1.7%
Directional	67	66	65	1	2	1.5%	3.1%
Horizontal	926	919	766	7	160	0.8%	20.9%
Vertical	66	61	77	5	-11	8.2%	-14.3%
Gulf of Mexico	18	18	23	0	-5	0.0%	-21.7%
Gulf Oil	15	17	19	-2	-4	-11.8%	-21.1%
Percent	83.3%	94.4%	82.6%	-11.1%	0.7%
Gulf Gas	3	1	4	2	-1	200.0%	-25.0%
Percent	16.7%	5.6%	17.4%	11.1%	-0.7%
Canada	81	83	93	(2)	(12)	-2.4%	-12.9%
Oil	35	38	40	(3)	(5)	-7.9%	-12.5%
Percent	43.2%	45.8%	43.0%	-2.6%	0.2%
Gas	46	45	53	1	(7)	2.2%	-13.2%
Percent	56.8%	54.2%	57.0%	2.6%	-0.2%
North America	1,140	1,129	1,001	11	139	1.0%	13.9%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$72.10	$71.29	$50.52	$0.80	$21.57	1.1%	42.7%
Oil $/mmbtu	$12.43	$12.29	$8.71	$0.14	$3.72	1.1%	42.7%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.80	$2.78	$3.14	$0.02	($0.33)	0.7%	-10.7%

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.