The U.S. rotary rig count was down 7 rigs at 1,993 for the week of December 2, 2011. It is 280 rigs (18.6%) higher than last year. The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil increased 2 to 1,132. There are 390 more rigs targeting oil than last year. Rigs drilling for oil represent 56.8% percent of all drilling activity. Rigs directed toward natural gas were down 9 at 856. The number of rigs currently drilling for gas is 105 lower than last year's level of 961. Year-over-year oil exploration in the U.S. is up 52.6 percent. Gas exploration is down 10.9 percent. The weekly average of crude oil spot prices is 15.7 percent higher than last year and natural gas spot prices are 19.6 percent lower. Daily crude oil and natural gas futures and spot prices are available on our site. Canadian rig activity is unchanged at 484 for the week of December 2, 2011 and is 35 (7.8%) higher than last year's rig count. Canadian drilling falls rapidly in the spring to avoid environmental damage moving drilling equipment during the spring thaw and rainy season. With wide weather related seasonal swings, even year-over-year comparisons can lead to incorrect conclusions.
North American Rig Count
| Change
| Percent Change |
| 12/02/2011 | 11/25/2011 | 12/03/2010 | Weekly | Annual | Weekly | Annual | | Total U.S. | 1,993 | 2,000 | 1,713 | (7) | 280 | -0.4% | 16.3% | | Offshore | 42 | 39 | 23 | 3 | 19 | 7.7% | 82.6% | | Land | 1,951 | 1,961 | 1,690 | (10) | 261 | -0.5% | 15.4% | | Inland Waters | 20 | 20 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 17.6% | | Oil | 1,132 | 1,130 | 742 | 2 | 390 | 0.2% | 52.6% | | Percent | 56.8% | 56.5% | 43.3% | 0.3% | 13.5% |
|
| | Gas | 856 | 865 | 961 | (9) | (105) | -1.0% | -10.9% | | Percent | 43.0% | 43.3% | 56.1% | -0.3% | -13.2% |
|
| | Directional | 217 | 213 | 218 | 4 | -1 | 1.9% | -0.5% | | Horizontal | 1,156 | 1,155 | 966 | 1 | 190 | 0.1% | 19.7% | | Vertical | 620 | 632 | 529 | -12 | 91 | -1.9% | 17.2% | | Gulf of Mexico | 40 | 38 | 23 | 2 | 17 | 5.3% | 73.9% | | Gulf Oil | 19 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 5.6% | 137.5% | | Percent | 47.5% | 47.4% | 34.8% | 0.1% | 12.7% |
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| | Gulf Gas | 21 | 20 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 5.0% | 40.0% | | Percent | 52.5% | 52.6% | 65.2% | -0.1% | -12.7% |
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| | Canada | 484 | 484 | 449 | 0 | 35 | 0.0% | 7.8% | | Oil | 314 | 310 | 271 | 4 | 43 | 1.3% | 15.9% | | Percent | 64.9% | 64.0% | 60.4% | 0.8% | 4.5% |
|
| | Gas | 170 | 174 | 178 | (4) | (8) | -2.3% | -4.5% | | Percent | 35.1% | 36.0% | 39.6% | -0.8% | -4.5% |
|
| | North America | 2,477 | 2,484 | 2,162 | (7) | 315 | -0.3% | 14.6% | Prices
| | Oil $/bbl. | $99.90 | $97.12 | $86.36 | $2.79 | $13.55 | 2.9% | 15.7% | | Gas $/mmbtu | $3.374 | $2.887 | $4.198 | $0.488 | ($0.823) | 16.9% | -19.6% | Monthly: International Rig Counts
International rig count, which excludes the US and Canada, increased 23 to 1,197 for the month of October 2011 and is 98 rigs (8.9%) above last year's 1,099 rigs.
The total number of rotary rigs worldwide in October was 3,722 up 60 from September and 557 (17.6%) higher than last year.
| Worldwide Rotary Rig Count | Change
| Percent Change |
| October 2011 | September 2011 | October 2010 | Monthly | Annual | Monthly | Annual | | Latin America | 438 | 432 | 377 | 6 | 61 | 1.4% | 16.2% | | Europe | 122 | 120 | 95 | 2 | 27 | 1.7% | 28.4% | | Africa | 81 | 78 | 83 | 3 | (2) | 3.8% | -2.4% | | Middle East | 297 | 292 | 270 | 5 | 27 | 1.7% | 10.0% | | Far East | 259 | 252 | 274 | 7 | (15) | 2.8% | -5.5% | | International | 1,197 | 1,174 | 1,099 | 23 | 98 | 2.0% | 8.9% | | Canada | 508 | 510 | 398 | (2) | 110 | -0.4% | 27.6% | | United States | 2,017 | 1,978 | 1,668 | 39 | 349 | 2.0% | 20.9% | | World | 3,722 | 3,662 | 3,165 | 60 | 557 | 1.6% | 17.6% |
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.
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