Weekly US oil, gas rig count up by 13 to 1,971

[June 16, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down by 13 this week to 1,971.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,405 rigs were exploring for oil and 562 were looking for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,860 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Colorado, New Mexico, West Virginia and Wyoming were up by two rigs apiece.

Texas declined by eight rigs, and Oklahoma and Colorado were down five each. North Dakota was down by three rigs, and Louisiana dropped by two. Arkansas and Pennsylvania fell by one each.

Alaska was unchanged.

The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed out at 488 in 1999.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.