rigs

A slowdown in oil-directed drilling overshadowed an uptick in Haynesville Shale activity to send the combined U.S. rig count four units lower to 776 for the week ended Friday (Dec. 16), according to updated figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Net changes in the United States for the week included a five-rig decline in oil drilling, which was partially offset by a one-rig increase in natural gas-directed drilling. Land drilling declined by one rig overall, while the Gulf of Mexico dropped three rigs from its total to fall to 15. Domestic declines included three directional rigs and one horizontal rig, with vertical drilling unchanged week/week.

The combined 776 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 579 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR...