Weekly US oil, gas rig count unchanged at 2,008

[January 28, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. held steady this week at 2,008.

The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,225 rigs were exploring for oil and 777 for natural gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,732 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma gained six rigs and Alaska picked up four. New Mexico was up by three, and Arkansas gained one.

Texas lost six rigs, while Louisiana and North Dakota were down four apiece. Colorado and Pennsylvania dropped by two each. California fell by 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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