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    Environment and Energy

    Rig Counts Still Weak

    Written by Brett Linton


    According to Baker Hughes data from October 16, 2015, the U.S rig count for the week was 787 rigs exploring for or developing oil or natural gas. This is a decrease of 8 rigs when compared to last week, with oil rigs down 10 to 595 rigs, gas rigs up 3 to 192 rigs, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0 rigs. Compared to this time last year, the 787 count is down 1,131 rigs, with oil rigs down 995, gas rigs down 136, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged.

    The decline in the drilling of new gas and oil wells is having a direct impact on the amount of line pipe, storage tanks, and OCTG that is being used by the energy sector. A good portion of these products come from hot rolled coil or plate substrate, and are reasons for both the short lead times on hot rolled and plate at North American steel producers and the falling steel prices we have seen going back to mid-2014.

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