Rigs actively looking for oil, gas down by 2 across U.S.

(AP) – The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by 2 last week to 1,771.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,430 were exploring for natural gas and 333 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Eight were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,754.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma added six rigs, Alaska gained two and California and Wyoming each added one. Texas lost nine rigs, Colorado six and New Mexico two. Louisiana was unchanged.

Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488.