Land drillers bulk up as shale frenzy grows

摘要

Houston—Two of North America’s biggestland drillers said this week they will addseveral dozen rigs in total to their respectivefleets in the next 18 months as activity inshale and unconventional fields continues itsfrenzied buildup. Patterson-UTI set a record in the secondquarter by turning out eight land rigs, whichcomprise a chunk of the 25 rigs the drillerwill add this year, company CEO Mark Siegelsaid during a July 28 quarterly conference call.On top of that, Patterson will build 30 rigs in2012, he said.