US drilling rig count increases 12 to 741

The number of rigs drilling for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 12 the week ending Feb. 10 to 741.

A year ago, 541 rigs were active.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said 591 rigs were targeting oil (up eight from the previous week) and 149 targeting for natural gas (up four). One was listed as miscellaneous.

Texas increased by seven rigs, New Mexico was up by four rigs, Louisiana and West Virginia each gained two and Pennsylvania was up one.

Ohio and Wyoming each lost two rigs.

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah were all unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May at 404.

- Associated Press