US rig count decreases by 4 this week to 1,754

[April 27, 2013]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by four this week to 1,754.

The Houston-based company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,381 rigs were exploring for oil and 366 for gas. Seven were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, there were 1,945 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma gained three rigs, Colorado gained two and Louisiana and New Mexico each gained one.

Alaska lost five rigs, North Dakota and Texas each lost three and Pennsylvania lost one. Arkansas, California, West Virginia 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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