Weekly US oil and gas rig count up by 32

[December 17, 2011]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 32 this week to 2,019.

Houston-based drilling product provider Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,196 rigs were exploring for oil and 818 for natural gas. Five were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,709 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas added 16 rigs, Louisiana added five, Alaska, North Dakota and Oklahoma each increased by three and Arkansas added one.

California, Colorado and New Mexico each lost one rig. Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.

The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. A low of 488 was recorded in 1999.

[Associated Press]

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