Number of active exploratory rigs in U.S. climbs to 1,847
With 17 more rigs actively looking for oil and natural gas as of this week, the county’s total number of active rigs is now 1,847.
Houston’s Baker Hughes Inc. reports 958 rigs are exploring oil and 881 are exploring gas, while eight are listed as miscellaneous.
The Associated Press reports the count last year was 1,535. Texas saw the biggest gain with 16, but Pennsylvania saw no change. The nation’s rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and reached a record low of 488 in 1999.
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