DOMESTIC oil and gas rig count up 11 to 1,277

HOUSTON (AP) _ The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week rose by 11 to 1,277 from a week earlier. <br><br>Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,063 were exploring

Saturday, June 23rd 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 rose by 11 to 1,277 from a week earlier.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,063 were exploring for gas, 211 were looking for oil and three were listed as miscellaneous, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday.

A year ago, the rig count was 893.

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.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 20 rigs and Louisiana one. Oklahoma and Wyoming lost four rigs.