U.S. drilling rig count rises four to 408

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by four the week ending June 3 to 408, the first gain in months and halting a slide that pushed the count to record-low levels amid collapsed energy prices.

A year ago, 868 rigs were active.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said 325 rigs were drilling for oil and 82 for natural gas. One was listed as miscellaneous.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas and Alaska each gained three rigs. New Mexico was up two. Oklahoma and Pennsylvania declined by two and Louisiana was down one. Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981.

- Associated Press