US rigs exploring for oil, gas down this week by 6

[December 01, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell this week by six, to 1,811.

Texas-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,386 rigs were exploring for oil and 424 were searching for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes counted 1,993 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained two rigs.

New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming each lost two rigs while Colorado, Louisiana and West Virginia each lost one. Alaska, Arkansas, California, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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