US rig count declines by 4 to 1,894

[September 01, 2012]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by four this week to 1,894.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,419 rigs were exploring for oil and 473 were searching for gas. Two were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 1,968 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, New Mexico and Oklahoma gained two apiece, while Alaska and West Virginia were up by one each.

Texas was down by six rigs, and California and Pennsylvania lost two each.

Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, North Dakota 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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