US oil, gas rig count up by 20 to 1,965

The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. was up 20 the week ending May 4 to 1,965.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported that 1,355 rigs were exploring for oil and 606 were looking for gas. Four were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week, Baker Hughes reported 1,836 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained eight rigs, Louisiana and New Mexico each gained four, California gained two and North Dakota gained one.

Alaska and Colorado each lost two rigs while Pennsylvania and West Virginia each lost one. Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming were unchanged.

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

—Associated Press