HOUSTON (KFGO-AM) Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Incorporated says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by 43 this week to 1,267 amid depressed oil prices.
The Houston-based company said Friday in its weekly report that 86 rigs were exploring for oil and 280 for gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago 1,769 rigs were active.
Among the major oil- and gas-producing states, North Dakota's count fell by 11.
It was the 12th straight week of rig count declines. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for April closed the week at $49.76 a barrel.