HOUSTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Oil service company Baker Hughes Inc. said Thursday oil and gas exploration internationally was increasing though U.S. activity declined.
Baker Hughes published its monthly rig count for October. The international rig count for October was up 56 year-on-year to 1,315. For international offshore work, the rig count was up 10 year-on-year to 316.
The company's rig count reflects the number of drilling rigs actively exploring for or developing oil or natural gas.
For the United States, the company said the average rig count for October was 1,744, down 90 compared to the same time last year. A similar U.S. trend was observed last month.
For Canada, the number was up 13 to 378 when compared to last October, but nine fewer than the number reported in September.
New drilling technologies for shale oil and natural gas deposits helped push North America to the top of the list in terms of global producers. Canada relies almost exclusively on the United States as an energy trading partner. The United States, meanwhile, is producing more oil than it has since the late 1980s.
