The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. has dropped by 11 this week to 1,997.
The Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,245 rigs were exploring for oil and 745 for natural gas. Seven were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,739 active rigs.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma gained two rigs while Colorado, North Dakota and Wyoming picked up one apiece.
Louisiana dropped by seven rigs, while Alaska and Texas lost three each. California and New Mexico fell by one apiece.
Arkansas and Pennsylvania were unchanged.
The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.
