US oil and gas rigs rises by 6
The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by six this week to 1,928. A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,790.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 14 rigs, Oklahoma added five and Alaska and California each gained one. Louisiana lost nine rigs, Colorado lost three, North Dakota and Arkansas each lost two and New Mexico lost one. Wyoming 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.
