Number of US Oil, Gas Rigs Drops 14

HOUSTON – The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States was down by 14 this week to 1,243.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,058 were exploring for gas, 183 were looking for oil and two were listed as miscellaneous, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Thursday.

A year ago, the rig count was 1,126.

Baker Hughes has kept track of the count since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. Several record lows were set in 1999, bottoming out at 488.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Wyoming gained one rig. Texas lost 14 rigs, Oklahoma lost two and Alaska and Louisiana each lost one. The number of rigs in California and New Mexico was unchanged.

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