North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was up 4 at 1,067 for the week of October 19, 2018. It is 154 rigs (16.9%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil is up 4 at 873. There are 137 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 81.8 percent of all drilling activity. 

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

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 18.6 percent. Gas exploration is up 9.6%. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 37.3 percent higher last year and natural gas spot prices are 16.5 percent high than last year. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site.

Canadian rig activity was down 4 at 191 for the week of October 19, 2018 and is 11 (5.4%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 4 at 123 and are 16 (15.0%) higher than last year. Gas directed rig count at 68 was unchanged and is 27 rigs (28.4%) 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
	10/19/2018	10/12/2018	10/20/2017	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,067	1,063	913	4	154	0.4%	16.9%
Offshore	20	23	20	(3)	0	-13.0%	0.0%
Land	1,047	1,040	893	7	154	0.7%	17.2%
Inland Waters	3	3	1	0	2	0.0%	200.0%
Oil	873	869	736	4	137	0.5%	18.6%
Percent	81.8%	81.7%	80.6%	0.1%	1.2%
Gas	194	193	177	1	17	0.5%	9.6%
Percent	18.2%	18.2%	19.4%	0.0%	-1.2%
Directional	72	70	80	2	-8	2.9%	-10.0%
Horizontal	926	927	771	-1	155	-0.1%	20.1%
Vertical	69	66	62	3	7	4.5%	11.3%
Gulf of Mexico	19	22	20	-3	-1	-13.6%	-5.0%
Gulf Oil	13	16	17	-3	-4	-18.8%	-23.5%
Percent	68.4%	72.7%	85.0%	-4.3%	-16.6%
Gulf Gas	6	6	3	0	3	0.0%	100.0%
Percent	31.6%	27.3%	15.0%	4.3%	16.6%
Canada	191	195	202	(4)	(11)	-2.1%	-5.4%
Oil	123	127	107	(4)	16	-3.1%	15.0%
Percent	64.4%	65.1%	53.0%	-0.7%	11.4%
Gas	68	68	95	0	(27)	0.0%	-28.4%
Percent	35.6%	34.9%	47.0%	0.7%	-11.4%
North America	1,258	1,258	1,115	0	143	0.0%	12.8%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$71.13	$72.96	$51.79	($1.83)	$19.34	-2.5%	37.3%
Oil $/mmbtu	$12.26	$12.58	$8.93	($0.32)	$3.33	-2.5%	37.3%
Gas $/mmbtu	$3.30	$3.23	$2.83	$0.07	$0.47	2.1%	16.5%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, is down 4 to 1,004 for the month of September 2018 and is 73 rigs (7.8%) higher than last year's 931 rigs.

The number of rotary rigs targeting oil in Seprember was 780 down 12 from August and is 80 (11.4%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were up 5 for the month at 190 and are 5 (2.6%) lower than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 34 are down 2 from last year.

International Rig Count					Change		Percent Change
		September 2018	August 2018	September 2017	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
International	Oil	780	792	700	-12	80	-1.5%	11.4%
	Gas	190	185	195	5	-5	2.7%	-2.6%
	Misc.	34	31	36	3	-2	9.7%	-5.6%
	Total	1004	1008	931	-4	73	-0.4%	7.8%
Europe	Oil	51	53	52	-2	-1	-3.8%	-1.9%
	Gas	19	18	20	1	-1	5.6%	-5.0%
	Misc.	16	14	19	2	-3	14.3%	-15.8%
	Total	86	85	91	1	-5	1.2%	-5.5%
Middle East	Oil	300	308	297	-8	3	-2.6%	1.0%
	Gas	93	93	98	0	-5	0.0%	-5.1%
	Misc.	2	1	0	1	2	100.0%	N.A.
	Total	395	402	395	-7	0	-1.7%	0.0%
Africa	Oil	87	83	53	4	34	4.8%	64.2%
	Gas	14	14	18	0	-4	0.0%	-22.2%
	Misc.	8	7	8	1	0	14.3%	0.0%
	Total	109	104	79	5	30	4.8%	38.0%
Latin America	Oil	172	176	158	-4	14	-2.3%	8.9%
	Gas	20	16	18	4	2	25.0%	11.1%
	Misc.	0	0	1	0	-1	N.A.	-100.0%
	Total	192	192	177	0	15	0.0%	8.5%
Asian Pacific	Oil	170	172	140	-2	30	-1.2%	21.4%
	Gas	44	44	41	0	3	0.0%	7.3%
	Misc.	8	9	8	-1	0	-11.1%	0.0%
	Total	222	225	189	-3	33	-1.3%	17.5%

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.