Weekly US oil, gas rig count down by 3 to 1,980

[June 02, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is down three this week to 1,980.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,386 rigs were exploring for oil and 588 were looking for gas. Six were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,854 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained six rigs while California, New Mexico and North Dakota each were up one.

Oklahoma declined by seven rigs; Louisiana and Pennsylvania by two each; Alaska and West Virginia by one apiece.

Arkansas, Colorado and Wyoming were unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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