U.S. weekly oil and gas rig count down 4

(AP) – The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States dropped by 4 last week to 1,797.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,455 were exploring for natural gas and 337 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Five were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1696.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, New Mexico and Wyoming each gained four rigs, and California gained two. Colorado lost five, Texas lost three, and Oklahoma and Alaska each lost two. Louisiana 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.