For the first time this year, every single region for which reliable oil and gas drilling data is available show a month-on-month uptick in active rotary rig numbers.

This endorses a trend that has been apparent for several months – that active rig numbers in the key North American region have been showing m-o-m gains since mid-year, as have total rig numbers worldwide.

North America typically accounts for 50% or more of the world active rig total in any month, data from industry source Baker Hughes shows.

Against this positive trend is the reality that in 2009 global active rig numbers remain substantially down on a year-on-year basis (see table). In 2008 total numbers never fell below 3,000 rigs in any month; this year they have never achieved that figure and have dipped below 2,000 on more than one occasion.

The driver of drilling activity is oil and gas prices, but having shown an overall upward price movement throughout 2009 (from $30/barrel at the start of the year), crude oil has baulked at crossing the psychologically important $80/bbl line and fallen back in recent weeks.

As for natural gas, Steel Business Briefing notes that having charted a downward course followed by an erratic recovery through 2009, gas prices are now about $5/mmbtu having bottomed below $2/mmbtu. This time last year they were $6.5/mmbtu.