Domestic oil and gas rig count up by five

<br>HOUSTON (AP) _ The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week was up five to 887. <br><br>Of the rigs running nationwide, 748 were exploring for gas and

Saturday, December 29th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week was up five to 887.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 748 were exploring for gas and 137 were looking for oil and two were listed as miscellaneous, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday.

A year ago, the rig count was 1,114.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained 15 rigs while New Mexico gained one. Texas lost three rigs and Alaska lost one. The number of rigs in California, Oklahoma and Wyoming was unchanged.

Baker Hughes has kept track of the count since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 on Dec. 28, 1981, during the height of the oil boom, but set several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488 on April 23, 1999.