HOUSTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased by one to 987 this week, and 59 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 three to 802 rigs this week, and more than half of them were in the Permian Basin region of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The number of gas drilling rigs increased by two to 185, and miscellaneous drilling rigs remained same as the previous week at zero.
The Houston-based oilfield services company reported that the number of land drilling rigs declined by three to 961 rigs. The number of inland waters drilling rigs stayed level as last week at four, and offshore drilling rigs rose by two to 22.
The number of directional drilling rigs rose by two to 73 rigs. The number of horizontal drilling rigs decreased by six to 866 rigs and vertical drilling rigs increased by three to 48 rigs.
When it comes to major U.S. states, the number of drilling rigs increased by four and three in the states of Ohio and Wyoming, respectively. The number of drilling rigs decreased the most by three in both Texas and Pennsylvania.
Oil prices dropped on Friday amid worries over global demand, as investors followed up on updates regarding Iranian-U.S. tensions.
The West Texas Intermediate for June delivery decreased 0.11 U.S. dollar to settle at 62.76 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for July delivery fell 0.41 dollar to close at 72.21 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
