US oil rig count edges up to 460, gas rigs dip to 132, total flat at 603

According to Baker Hughes, the number of active US oil rigs increased by one to 460 in the week ended October 23. The gas rig count fell by one to 132, offsetting the oil rig gain and leaving the total US rig count unchanged at 603.

The US figures, broken down with year-ago comparisons:

• Oil rigs: 460, versus 459 last week and 420 a year ago, a year-over-year rise of 40.

• Gas rigs: 132, compared with 133 last week and 121 a year ago, an increase of 11 year over year.

• Miscellaneous rigs: Unchanged at 11, versus 9 a year earlier.

• Total US rigs: Steady at 603, compared with 550 a year ago, a year-over-year gain of 53, or 9.6%.

Canada's rig count climbed by three to 220, versus 199 a year earlier. This pushed the combined North American total to 823, a weekly increase of three and a year-over-year rise of 74 from 749.

The weekly changes are slight, but the year-over-year picture indicates higher drilling activity, with oil rigs driving the bulk of the US increase.