Number of rigs down 75 from last week

HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by 75 this week to 1,866.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,443 were exploring for natural gas and 412 for oil. Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. also reported Wednesday that a total of 11 were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,823.

Baker Hughes released the weekly report early because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained five rigs and Alaska added two. Oklahoma lost 14 rigs, Wyoming lost six, New Mexico lost five, North Dakota lost four and California, Colorado and Louisiana lost two each. Arkansas was unchanged.

Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488.

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