Domestic oil and gas rig count up by 15 this week

<br>HOUSTON (AP) _ The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States was up by 15 to 1,213 this week. <br><br>Of the rigs running nationwide, 967 were exploring for gas,

Saturday, April 21st 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 was up by 15 to 1,213 this week.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 967 were exploring for gas, 244 were looking for oil and two were listed as miscellaneous, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday.

A year ago, the rig count was at 817.

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 eight rigs, Louisiana six, New Mexico four and California three. Oklahoma lost four rigs, Alaska two and Wyoming one.