Nationwide rig count at 859, down from 1,128 a year ago

by The Associated Press

For the 18th week in the last 21, the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States has declined.

This week’s total, 859, is 10 lower than the previous week.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 714 were exploring for gas, 144 were looking for oil and one was listed as miscellaneous, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Jan. 25.

A year ago, the rig count was 1,128.

On July 13, 2001, the count reached a 15-year high of 1,293. It has fallen 33 percent since, largely because of dropping prices.

Baker Hughes has kept track of the count since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 on Dec. 28, 1981, during the height of the oil boom, but set several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488 on April 23, 1999.

Of the other major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost six rigs, Louisiana five, New Mexico two and California one. Oklahoma gained two rigs. The count for Alaska was unchanged.