North American Rotary Rig Counts

The U.S. rotary rig count from Baker Hughes was down 2 at 1,053 for the week of September 21, 2018. It is 1189 rigs (12.6%) higher than last year.

The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil is down 1 at 866. There are 122 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil are 82.2 percent of all drilling activity. 

Rigs targeting natural gas were unchanged at 186. The number of rigs drilling for gas is down 4 from year.

Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 16.4 percent. Gas exploration is down 2.1percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot price is 39.3 percent higher last year and natural gas spot prices are 3.4 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 29 at 197 for the week of September 21, 2018 and is 23 (10.5%) lower than last year. Rigs targeting oil were down 13 at 135 and are 13 (10.7%) higher than last year. Gas directed rig count at 62 was down 16 and is 36 rigs (37.6%) 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
	09/21/2018	09/14/2018	09/22/2017	Weekly	Annual	Weekly	Annual
Total U.S.	1,053	1,055	935	(2)	118	-0.2%	12.6%
Offshore	20	20	19	0	1	0.0%	5.3%
Land	1,033	1,035	916	(2)	117	-0.2%	12.8%
Inland Waters	5	5	3	0	2	0.0%	66.7%
Oil	866	867	744	(1)	122	-0.1%	16.4%
Percent	82.2%	82.2%	79.6%	0.1%	2.7%
Gas	186	186	190	0	(4)	0.0%	-2.1%
Percent	17.7%	17.6%	20.3%	0.0%	-2.7%
Directional	69	71	77	-2	-8	-2.8%	-10.4%
Horizontal	919	921	790	-2	129	-0.2%	16.3%
Vertical	65	63	68	2	-3	3.2%	-4.4%
Gulf of Mexico	18	18	19	0	-1	0.0%	-5.3%
Gulf Oil	16	16	15	0	1	0.0%	6.7%
Percent	88.9%	88.9%	78.9%	0.0%	9.9%
Gulf Gas	2	2	4	0	-2	0.0%	-50.0%
Percent	11.1%	11.1%	21.1%	0.0%	-9.9%
Canada	197	226	220	(29)	(23)	-12.8%	-10.5%
Oil	135	148	122	(13)	13	-8.8%	10.7%
Percent	68.5%	65.5%	55.5%	3.0%	13.1%
Gas	62	78	98	(16)	(36)	-20.5%	-36.7%
Percent	31.5%	34.5%	44.5%	-3.0%	-13.1%
North America	1,250	1,281	1,155	(31)	95	-2.4%	8.2%
Prices
Oil $/bbl.	$70.01	$68.97	$50.28	$1.04	$19.73	1.5%	39.3%
Oil $/mmbtu	$12.07	$11.89	$8.67	$0.18	$3.40	1.5%	39.3%
Gas $/mmbtu	$2.98	$2.89	$3.09	$0.09	($0.11)	3.2%	-3.4%

Monthly: International Rig Counts

International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, up 38 to 997 for the month of July 2018 and is 38 rigs (4.0%) higher than last year's 959 rigs.

The total number of rotary rigs targeting oil in July was 780 up 27 from June and 57 (7.9%) higher than last year. International gas rigs were up 11 for the month at 185 and are 16 (8.0%) lower than last year. Miscellaneous or unclassified rigs at 32 are down 3 from last year.

International Rig Count					Change		Percent Change
		July 2018	June 2018	July 2017	Monthly	Annual	Monthly	Annual
International	Oil	780	753	723	27	57	3.6%	7.9%
	Gas	185	174	201	11	-16	6.3%	-8.0%
	Misc.	32	32	35	0	-3	0.0%	-8.6%
	Total	997	959	959	38	38	4.0%	4.0%
Europe	Oil	51	49	46	2	5	4.1%	10.9%
	Gas	14	14	18	0	-4	0.0%	-22.2%
	Misc.	15	15	18	0	-3	0.0%	-16.7%
	Total	80	78	82	2	-2	2.6%	-2.4%
Middle East	Oil	302	305	299	-3	3	-1.0%	1.0%
	Gas	98	87	98	11	0	12.6%	0.0%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	400	392	397	8	3	2.0%	0.8%
Africa	Oil	79	73	60	6	19	8.2%	31.7%
	Gas	12	13	22	-1	-10	-7.7%	-45.5%
	Misc.	7	8	7	-1	0	-12.5%	0.0%
	Total	98	94	89	4	9	4.3%	10.1%
Latin America	Oil	173	163	177	10	-4	6.1%	-2.3%
	Gas	17	17	19	0	-2	0.0%	-10.5%
	Misc.	0	0	0	0	0	N.A.	N.A.
	Total	190	180	196	10	-6	5.6%	-3.1%
Asian Pacific	Oil	175	163	141	12	34	7.4%	24.1%
	Gas	44	43	44	1	0	2.3%	0.0%
	Misc.	10	9	10	1	0	11.1%	0.0%
	Total	229	215	195	14	34	6.5%	17.4%

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.