U.S. rig count up 4 this week, settles at 1,742

HOUSTON (AP) — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by four this week to 1,742.

The Houston-based company said in its weekly report Friday that 1,376 rigs were exploring for oil and 360 for gas. Six were miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,800 rigs.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained nine rigs, Wyoming increased by six, Kansas added two and Oklahoma and West Virginia each rose by one.

North Dakota lost eight rigs, Colorado and Louisiana lost three each, Alaska and Pennsylvania each dropped two and New Mexico and Utah lost one each. Arkansas, California and Ohio remained unchanged.

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