AP reported that the number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the US decreased by one last week to 2,007.

Houston based drilling product provider Baker Hughes Inc reported that 1,193 rigs were exploring for oil and 809 for natural gas. Five were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago this week Baker Hughes reported 1,694 active rigs.

Of the major oil and gas producing states, Pennsylvania added four rigs and Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota and West Virginia each added one.

Arkansas declined by four rigs, Texas lost three and Alaska and Oklahoma each dropped one. California, Colorado and Wyoming were unchanged.

The rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. A low of 488 was recorded in 1999.

(Sourced from Associated Press)