U.S. Inland Waters and Gulf of Mexico Rig Counts Continue to Rise While U.S. Land Counts Remain Flat

HOUSTON, June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Platts Analytics, today announced  the total U.S. rig count for May 2018 was 1,164, up 17 (+1%) from April 2018, and up 138 (+13%) from May 2017. This rig count includes U.S. onshore, U.S. inland waters, and U.S. offshore Gulf of Mexico drilling rigs.

  • May U.S. land rig count: 1,111, up 12 (+1%) from the previous month and up 135 (+14%) from May 2017
  • May U.S. inland waters and Gulf of Mexico rig count: 53, up 5 (+10%) from the previous month and up 3 (+6%) from May 2017

"Recently, the smaller, more price-sensitive oil and gas rig operators have driven activity gains," said S&P Global Platts Senior Industry Analyst Trey Cowan.  "But now that near-term crude oil prices appear to have plateaued we would not be surprised to see those same smaller operators pull back on their drilling."

S&P Global Platts Rig Analyst Trevor Crone pointed to the improved month-over-month economic conditions for rig operators in the U.S. inland waters and the Gulf of Mexico.

S&P Global Platts U.S. Rig Counts

















May 2018

April 2018

Month over Month Change

% Change


May 2017

Variance Year over Year (YOY)

YOY % Variance

Colorado

34

31

3

10%


37

-3

-8%

Louisiana

44

41

3

7%


47

-3

-6%

New Mexico

91

87

4

5%


56

35

63%

North Dakota

54

55

-1

-2%


45

9

20%

Oklahoma

144

143

1

1%


140

4

3%

Texas

566

567

-1

0%


497

69

14%

Rest of U.S. Land

178

175

3

2%


154

24

16%

U.S. Land Subtotal

1,111

1,099

12

1%


976

135

14%

U.S. Inland Waters

14

11

3

27%


14

0

0%

U.S. Gulf of Mexico

39

37

2

5%


36

3

8%

U.S. Inland and Gulf of Mexico

53

48

5

10%


50

3

6%

Total U.S. Rig Count

1,164

1,147

17

1%


1,026

138

13%

CONTACT
Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917 331 4607, kathleen.tanzy@spglobal.com

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SOURCE S&P Global Platts

For further information: Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917 331 4607, kathleen.tanzy@spglobal.com; Gregory Tsichlis, + 817 616 2081, greg.tsichlis@spglobal.com; EMEA: Arnaud Humblot +44 207 176 6685, arnaud.humblot@spglobal.com and Alex Brog +44 207 176 7645, alex.brog@spglobal.com ; Singapore: Platts (platts@ryancommunication.com)