Weekly US oil, gas rig count drops 20 to 1,987

[January 14, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down by 20 this week to 1,987.

The Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,191 rigs were exploring for oil and 791 for natural gas. Five were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,700 active rigs, 187 fewer than this year.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Pennsylvania gained three rigs and Alaska gained two. Arkansas and North Dakota picked up one apiece.

Wyoming lost eight rigs, Colorado lost six and Oklahoma dropped four. Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia dropped two apiece, and New Mexico lost one.

California was unchanged.

The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. A low of 488 was recorded in 1999.

[Associated Press]

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