HOUSTON, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased by two to 988 this week, and 57 rigs down from this time last year, according to the weekly data released by oilfield services provider Baker Hughes on Friday.
The number of rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields decreased by two to 805 rigs this week, and more than half of them were located in the Permian Basin region of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The number of gas drilling rigs and miscellaneous drilling rigs both remained same as the previous week at 183 and zero, respectively.
The Houston-based oilfield services company reported that the number of land drilling rigs declined by two to 964 rigs. The number of inland waters drilling rigs and offshore drilling rigs both stayed level as last week at four and 20, respectively.
The number of directional drilling rigs stayed same as the last week at 71 rigs. The number of horizontal drilling rigs and vertical drilling rigs both decreased by one to 872 and 45 rigs, respectively.
When it comes to major U.S. states, the number of drilling rigs increased by three in the state of California. The number of drilling rigs decreased the most by four in New Mexico. The state of Texas increased by one to 485 rigs.
U.S. oil prices were little changed on Friday. The West Texas Intermediate for June delivery was down 0.04 U.S. dollar to settle at 61.66 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for July delivery rose 0.23 dollar to close at 70.62 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
