US rig count up 9 this week to 1,757

(AP) US rig count up 9 this week to 1,757
HOUSTON
Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by nine this week to 1,757.

The Houston-based company said Wednesday in its weekly report that 1,395 rigs were exploring for oil and 355 for gas. Seven were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,965 active rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Colorado and Texas each gained three, New Mexico and North Dakota each added two and California and Oklahoma gained one apiece.

Pennsylvania lost one. Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.

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

The weekly report was released two days early because of the July 4 holiday.