The US drilling rig count fell 48 units—markedly fewer compared with declines in recent weeks—to settle at 1,310 rigs working during the week ended Feb. 20, Baker Hughes Inc. reported. That total is the lowest since Jan. 22, 2010, and 461 fewer units compared with this week a year ago. The count has now fallen 12 consecutive weeks, losing 610 units during that time ( OGJ Online, Dec. 5, 2014 ). In analysis releases this week, Wood Mackenzie says it expects a continued decline in rigs through the first half of the year, leveling off at 1,000 units by August. The pace of land rigs being idled will continue to accelerate, with the first two weeks in February seeing another 200 rigs coming off contract. “The oil price collapse is hitting onshore activity and rig operators, drilling rigs are currently being stacked at an alarming […]