Weekly US oil, gas rig count up by 4 to 1,984

[June 09, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is up four this week to 1,984.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,414 rigs were exploring for oil and 565 were looking for gas. Five were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,855 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Colorado gained fours rigs and Louisiana three, while California, Oklahoma and Texas each were up two.

Oklahoma declined by one.

Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming all were unchanged.

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

[Associated Press]

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