oil rig count down

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. decreased by three this week to 1,059.

The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by one this week to 946.

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by eight this week to 936. That's up from the 506 rigs that were active a year ago. Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 749 rigs sought oil and 186 explored for natural gas this week...

And yet, some sources are reporting that some oil companies, particularly in the Bakken, are starting to hire again to ramp up hydraulic fracturing operations.

Arkansas, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming were unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. The previous low of 488 set in 1999 was eclipsed March 11, and has continued to plunge.