US oil, gas rig count up by 12 to 1,986

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. was up 12 the week ending May 18 to 1,986.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported that 1,382 rigs were exploring for oil and 600 were looking for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,830 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, New Mexico gained three rigs; California and West Virginia each gained two; and Alaska, Colorado and North Dakota were up one apiece.

Pennsylvania declined by four rigs and Arkansas by one.

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming were unchanged.

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

—Associated Press