US rig count increases by 6 to 1,930

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by six the week ending Aug. 3 to 1,930 from the previous week. The count had fallen for three consecutive weeks.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported that 1,429 rigs were exploring for oil and 498 were searching for gas. Three were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 1,920 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma gained six rigs, and Texas rose by five. New Mexico increased by three, and Alaska was up two. West Virginia jumped by one.

North Dakota lost four rigs, Pennsylvania dropped three and Colorado two. Arkansas, California and Louisiana each lost one rig. Wyoming was unchanged.

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

—Associated Press