U.S. weekly oil and gas rig count up by 4

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States increased by four last week to 1,744.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,466 were exploring for natural gas and 276 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Two were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,639.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 11 rigs, and Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming each gained one. Louisiana lost seven rigs, and Alaska and California lost one rig each. Oklahoma 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.