Weekly US oil, gas rig count down 13 to 1,981

[February 25, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down 13 this week to 1,981.

The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,265 rigs were exploring for oil and 710 for natural gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,699 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained six, North Dakota picked up two and Louisiana added one.

Oklahoma dropped by 10 rigs, and Wyoming fell by four. Pennsylvania lost three, while New Mexico dropped by two. Alaska was down one.

Arkansas, California, Colorado and West Virginia were unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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