Weekly US oil, gas rig count up 5 to 1,994

[February 18, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is up five this week to 1,994.

The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,272 rigs were exploring for oil and 716 for natural gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,713 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained five rigs and Louisiana gained two. Alaska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wyoming gained one apiece.

Pennsylvania dropped by three rigs, while Arkansas and Colorado dropped two each. New Mexico was down by one.

California was unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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