U.S. rig count declines by 29 this week

HOUSTON (AP) — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. this week declined by 29, to 809. Houston-based Baker Hughes said Friday that 614 rigs were seeking oil and 195 explored for natural gas. A year ago, with oil prices about double the prices now, 1,922 rigs were active. The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.