U.S. loses 11 oil, gas exploration rigs
HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell this week by 11 to 1,800.
Baker Hughes Inc., a Houston-based oilfield services company, reported Friday that 1,382 were exploring for oil and 417 were searching for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes counted 1,987 rigs.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Colorado each gained one rig. West Virginia was unchanged.
Alaska lost four rigs; North Dakota three; New Mexico and Texas two each; and Louisiana one. California, Oklahoma and Wyoming were unchanged.
The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999