According to Baker Hughes oilfield service company, the worldwide rig count totaled 2,116 in August, up from 2,110 in July 2017, and up 569 units from 1,547 counted in August 2016.
The global oil and gas rig count showed growth for the fourth consecutive month, remaining at the 2-year high.
The average US rig count for August was 947, down by 6 units from the previous month. Canadian rig count for August was 217, up 19 units from July. Today, the number of active oil and gas rigs in North America accounts for 55% of global drilling rigs compared with 39% in 2016.
European rig count rose by 9 units to 91 last month, while the Asia-Pacific region’s rig count remained unchanged at 195. Latin America dropped by 5 units to 91, Africa declined by 5 units to 84, and the Middle East edged down by 6 units to 391.
In 2016, the average number of the world’s active oil and gas drilling rigs was 1,593, the lowest level over the past 17 years. In 2015, the global rig count stood at 2,337, while in 2014 it was 3,578, the highest since 1985.
