US onshore rig count to pick up in 2017, but recovery will be gradual

The US land rig count is expected to remain flat for the remainder of the year, but approximately 200 rigs will go back to work in 2017, James West, Senior Managing Director at Evercore ISI, said at the 2016 IADC Drilling Onshore Conference in Houston. This signals a recovery, but it’s like to happen gradually rather than immediately. In this video from the conference on 19 May, Mr West explains some of the factors that will moderate the onshore drilling market recovery, including challenges around labor and equipment.