North America finished the week ended Sept. 18 with 792 rotary rigs working across the US and Canada, down 6 units from the prior week, Baker Hughes officials reported Friday.

Canadian oil-directed drilling drove the decline. Canada ended the week with 197 rigs, a 10-unit drop. Of those, 134 were drilling for oil, 7 fewer than a week earlier, while 62 rigs targeted gas, down 3 units.

The US count moved in the opposite direction. Operators added 4 rigs week-on-week to reach 595 — a 53-unit gain from the same week last year.

Land drilling accounted for the entire US increase. Rigs working on land rose by 4 to 585. Inland waters gained 1 rig to reach 3, while the offshore count fell by 1 to 7.

By target, the US oil count rose 2 units to 452 and the gas count rose 2 to 134. Nine rigs remained unclassified, unchanged from the previous week.

State-level movements

New Mexico and North Dakota each added 3 rigs, closing the week at 95 and 31 rigs, respectively. New Mexico's total reflects continued activity in the Delaware basin, while North Dakota's gain points to operators adding Iron Rig-capable spreads in the Bakken.

Utah added 1 rig to end the week at 14.

Three states each dropped a single unit. Texas, home to the Permian and Eagle Ford plays, finished at 283 rigs. Louisiana closed at 35. Colorado held 12.

Watch item

The next Baker Hughes tally, due Friday, will show whether US operators sustain the 53-unit year-on-year pace as Canadian oil-directed rigs continue their seasonal pullback.