US drilling rig count up 8 to 497

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by eight to 497 the week ending Sept. 2.

A year ago, 864 rigs were active. Depressed energy prices have sharply curtailed oil and gas exploration. Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said 407 rigs targeted oil, up one from the previous week; 88 targeted natural gas, up seven. Two were listed as miscellaneous.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Texas gained four rigs each, Pennsylvania was up two, while North Dakota and West Virginia increased by one apiece.

Louisiana declined by seven and Colorado was down one.

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio and Utah were unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May at 404.

- Associated Press