HOUSTON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States increased by one to 984 this week, and 76 rigs down from a year ago, 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 increased by three to 800 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 decreased by two to 184.
The Houston-based oilfield services company reported that the number of land drilling rigs and inland waters drilling rigs both remained the same level as the last week at 957 rigs and four rigs, respectively. The number of offshore drilling rigs increased by one to 23 rigs.
The number of directional drilling rigs increased by one to 70 rigs. The number of horizontal drilling rigs decreased by one to 862 rigs and vertical drilling rigs increased by one to 52 rigs.
The number of drilling rigs in the state of New Mexico increased the most by two to 101 rigs. When it comes to Texas, the number of drilling rigs decreased by one to 480 rigs.
U.S. oil prices fell sharply on Friday. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for July delivery decreased 3.09 U.S. dollars to settle at 53.50 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for July delivery was down 2.38 dollars to close at 64.49 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
