US drops 2 to 1,835 rigs exploring for oil, gas

[October 13, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped this week by two to 1,835.

Texas-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,411 rigs were exploring for oil and 422 were searching for gas. Two were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 2,023 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained four rigs while Alaska, New Mexico and Oklahoma gained one apiece.

Louisiana lost four rigs, and California dropped by three. Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota and Wyoming lost one rig apiece.

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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