Published: October 23, 2009 10:04 pm      

Number of active rigs increase by 8

HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. this week has risen by eight this week to 1,048.

Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday that 725 rigs were exploring for natural gas and 312 for oil. Eleven were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago this week, the rig count had been 1,964.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained four rigs, Louisiana gained three, Wyoming gained two, and California gained one. North Dakota lost two rigs, while Alaska, New Mexico and Oklahoma lost one each. The numbers of rigs in Arkansas and Colorado were unchanged.

The rig count tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and was a record low of 488 in 1999.