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Houston • Utah has one less rig exploring for oil and natural gas this week, oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday.
The dip contributed to a decline of seven operating drill rigs nationally, the Houston-based company said, leaving the overall U.S. total at 737. That included 545 rigs seeking oil and 192 exploring for natural gas.
A year ago, when oil prices almost double the prices now, , Baker Hughes said 1,920 rigs were active.
Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana was down four rigs, Texas three, North Dakota two and Utah and Colorado one apiece.
Oklahoma and Wyoming each added two rigs.
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were unchanged.
The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.