HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by six this week to 414, the second consecutive week the count has increased after a slide that lasted months and pushed the count to record-low levels amid collapsed energy prices.
A year ago, 859 rigs were active.
Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. said Friday 328 rigs sought oil and 85 explored for natural gas. One was listed as miscellaneous.
Among major oil- and gas-producing states, North Dakota and Texas each gained two rigs and Alaska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah each gained one.
Pennsylvania declined by one rig.
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.
The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981.
