Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. plunged by 98 this week to 1,358 amid depressed oil prices.
The Houston firm said Friday in its weekly report that 1,056 rigs were exploring for oil and 300 for gas. Two were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago 1,764 rigs were active.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas' count plummeted by 56, New Mexico fell 12, North Dakota fell nine, Colorado lost six, Oklahoma lost five, Wyoming fell three, Ohio and West Virginia each lost two and Arkansas fell one.
Louisiana gained one.
Alaska, California, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Utah were unchanged.
The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.
---------------------------------------------------
KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.
