HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose this week by six to 1,806. Texas-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,389 rigs were exploring for oil and 413 were searching for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 2,016 rigs. Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 12 rigs, North Dakota four, Alaska and Pennsylvania two apiece, and West Virginia and Wyoming one each. New Mexico declined by three and Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and Oklahoma each fell by one. California was unchanged. The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999. |