Offshore Rig Count

Offshore rig counts continue to rise, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count.

The U.S. Gulf's offshore rig utilization rate jumped over 80 percent for the first time since late 1998 due to a net five-rig increase in contracted rigs in the region. This week, 161 of 199 rigs are under contract in the region. U.S. Gulf mobile offshore rig utilization is 81.0 percent.

Worldwide rig counts rose as well, with a net seven-rig increase in the number of rigs under contract recorded on a week-to-week basis. The week, 517 of the world's 640 mobile offshore drilling rigs are under contract. Worldwide offshore rig utilization is 80.8 percent.

A net one-rig increase in the European offshore rig count boosted fleet utilization in the region to 84.8 percent this week. Currently, 89 of the 105 mobile offshore drilling rigs deployed in European waters under contract.