US oil and natural gas rig count increases by 10 to 884 this week, down from 1,908 a year ago

Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 10 this week to 884.

Houston-based Baker Hughes said Friday 670 rigs were seeking oil and 213 explored for natural gas. One was listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, 1,908 rigs were active.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained eight rigs, Louisiana gained four, Kansas increased by three, West Virginia gained two and California, and North Dakota each increased by one.

Pennsylvania lost three rigs, Colorado declined by two and Ohio lost one.

Alaska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming were unchanged.

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