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HOUSTON—The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 11 this week to 1,407.
Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday that 927 rigs were exploring for natural gas and 466 for oil. Fourteen were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, the rig count stood at 1,126.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained 10 rigs, North Dakota and Pennsylvania each gained six and Texas gained two. West Virginia lost six rigs, New Mexico lost four, Alaska and Oklahoma each lost two and Colorado lost one. Arkansas, California and Wyoming were unchanged.
The rig count tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, and it fell to a record low of 488 in 1999.
Baker Hughes is based in Houston.
