A pipe will be laid underground to distribute oil more efficiently than the current practice of trucking it to it's destination. At a study session Monday, city council members voted 6-4 to essentially back oil industry interests, partially in reaction to new state regulations. The vote was not binding and will be subject to amendments when it goes to the council floor for first reading on Nov. 24. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

HOUSTON | Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by two this week to 859, the first weekly gain since December.

A pipe will be laid underground to distribute oil more efficiently than the current practice of trucking it to it's destination. At a study session Monday, city council members voted 6-4 to essentially back oil industry interests, partially in reaction to new state regulations. The vote was not binding and will be subject to amendments when it goes to the council floor for first reading on Nov. 24. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

Houston-based Baker Hughes said Friday 628 rigs were seeking oil and 228 explored for natural gas. Three were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, with oil prices nearly twice the current levels, 1,873 rigs were active.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Louisiana gained six rigs. New Mexico and West Virginia each rose by one.

North Dakota and Ohio declined by three apiece and Texas was down by two.

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming were all unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.