Number of active oil rigs falls by 20

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by 20 this week to 955, down nearly half from a year ago.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 742 were exploring for natural gas and 202 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. A total of 11 were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,842. The U.S. count is down 53 percent since the end of August as weak energy demand has hampered oil-field activity.
AP