U.S. rig count declined by 13 this week to 744

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Houston • Utah's drilling operations were unchanged last week, when the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. this week declined by 13.

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said 744 rigs were opeating this week, 555 seeking oil and 189 explored for natural gas. A year ago, with oil prices almost double the prices now, 1,917 rigs were active.

Like Utah, states whose drilling rigs remainted constant were Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio and West Virginia.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost six rigs while Alaska, California, Colorado, Louisiana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wyoming each lost one.

New Mexico gained two rigs and Oklahoma gained one.

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