According to a recent report by WRTG economics, for the week ending June 25, the US rotary rig count increased 13 to 1,552. This reflects a 69.2 percent year-on-year increase from numbers reported during the same time period in 2009.
The number of rotary rigs drilling for oil was up 9, to 583. This marks an annual increase of 364 from the number of oil rigs than reported during the same time period in 2009.
Rigs directed toward natural gas were up 5, to 958. The number of rigs currently drilling for gas is 271 greater than last year's reported 687.
Canadian rig activity was up 37 at 273 for the week of June 25, 2010 and is 125 higher than last year's rig count. Canadian drilling falls rapidly in the spring to avoid environmental damage during the spring thaw and rainy season. It should be noted, though, that the Canadian drilling industry experiences wide seasonal swings, meaning year-on-year comparisons can lead to incorrect conclusions.