No change in state's rig countJun 3, 2012 - The Associated Press HOUSTON -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,980. Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,386 rigs were exploring for oil and 588 were looking for gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,854 rigs. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained six rigs while California, New Mexico and North Dakota each were up one. Oklahoma declined by seven rigs; Louisiana and Pennsylvania by two each; Alaska and West Virginia by one apiece. Arkansas, Colorado and Wyoming were unchanged. The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999. |
