Weekly US oil, gas rig count down by 27 to 1,945

[April 28, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down 27 this week to 1,945.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,328 rigs were exploring for oil and 613 were looking for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,818 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, only North Dakota increased its total, gaining one rig.

Louisiana lost five rigs, Pennsylvania and Texas each lost four while Arkansas and Oklahoma each lost three. Alaska, California and New Mexico lost two apiece and Colorado and Wyoming each lost one.

West Virginia was unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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