U.S. rig count down 13 this week to 637

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Houston • The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by 13 this week to 637, oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said Friday in its weekly report.

Utah was one of seven states in which the number of active rigs remained constant. The others were Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Baker Hughes said 510 rigs sought oil and 127 explored for natural gas amid depressed energy prices. A year ago, 1,633 rigs were active.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas declined by seven rigs, Pennsylvania three, Kansas, New Mexico and North Dakota two each and California one.

Alaska increased by two rigs and Ohio was up one.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.