Weekly US oil, gas rig count up 11 to 1,984

[March 17, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. is up by 11 this week to 1,984.

The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,317 rigs were exploring for oil and 663 for natural gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,720 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma gained 12, Colorado four and Alaska and North Dakota one each.

Louisiana lost six rigs, Texas dropped three, Arkansas two and Wyoming one.

California, New Mexico, Pennsylvania 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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