HOUSTON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased by one to 1,026 this week but increased by 36 from a year ago, according to the weekly data released by the Baker Hughes on Friday.
The number of rigs operating in U.S. oil fields fell by one to 833 this week, and more than half of them were located in the Permian Basin region of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
The Houston-based oilfield services company reported that the number of land drilling rigs decreased by three to 1,001. The number of inland waters drilling rigs grew by two to three rigs and the number of offshore drilling rigs stayed level as the previous week at 22 rigs.
The number of directional drilling rigs decreased by two to 65 rigs, the number of horizontal drilling rigs increased by three to 907 rigs, while the number of vertical drilling rigs decreased by two to 54 rigs.
The U.S. states of Alaska and North Dakota led the gains with three rigs. Oklahoma saw a decrease of five drilling rigs. The number of drilling rigs in Texas decreased by one to 501 rigs.
Drilling activity and newly added wells are crucial to maintain as well as increase crude oil production in the United States.
U.S. oil prices fell on Friday. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery fell 0.09 U.S. dollar to settle at 58.52 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
