Weekly US oil, gas rig count down by 29 to 1,950

[April 14, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down by 29 this week to 1,950.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,322 rigs were exploring for oil and 624 for natural gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,772 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana lost nine rigs, Texas lost seven, Oklahoma lost six and Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota and Pennsylvania each lost one.

Arkansas, California, New Mexico, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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