US rig count rises this week by 8, to 941

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. rose by eight this week to 941.

A year ago, just 421 rigs were active.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 758 rigs sought oil and 183 explored for natural gas this week.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Oklahoma added five rigs, North Dakota increased by three, Louisiana added two and California and Colorado were up one each.

Alaska declined by two rigs while New Mexico and Utah dropped one apiece.

Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May of 2016 at 404.