Natural Gas Drilling Rig Count Down by 38

Number of active oil rigs drops by 38
© 2009 The Associated Press
April 9, 2009, 12:32PM

HOUSTON — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States decreased by 38 this week to 1,005.
Of the rigs running nationwide, 790 were exploring for natural gas and 204 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Thursday. A total of 11 were listed as miscellaneous.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost 22 rigs, Colorado lost five and Oklahoma lost four. Alaska lost three, California and North Dakota dropped two each and New Mexico lost one. Louisiana added five and Arkansas gained one.
Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488.