VOL. XLIV

No. 13

26-March-2001

SUPPLY/DEMAND

Middle East Active Drilling Rig Count Continues High

Last month 164 drilling rigs were in operation in the Middle East, slightly down from Januarys 10-year peak, as the exploration and production sector worldwide looks to capitalize on recent high crude oil prices. According to Baker Hughes, besides the rigs operating in the Middle East (see Table below) there were 90 rigs operating in Europe, 52 in Africa, 264 in Latin America and 162 in the...