US drilling rig count up by 19 to 1,732

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 19 the week ending Jan. 28 to 1,732.

Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported that 913 rigs were exploring for gas and 809 for oil. Ten were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, the count was 1,317.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Pennsylvania gained 10 rigs, Louisiana gained five, New Mexico gained four, Alaska gained three, Colorado gained two and Wyoming gained one.

Arkansas and Oklahoma each lost two rigs and California, North Dakota and Texas each lost one. West Virginia was unchanged.

The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981, the height of the oil boom. The record low of 488 was in 1999.

—The Associated Press