U.S. Weekly Oil, Gas Rig Count Up by 14

HOUSTON – The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week increased by 14 to 1,546.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,295 were exploring for gas and 249 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Two were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, the rig count was 1,320.

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, Texas gained eight rigs, Colorado six and California and Wyoming each five. Louisiana and Oklahoma each lost four rigs and New Mexico was down two. Alaska was unchanged.