HOUSTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased by eight to 946 this week, and 102 rigs down from a year ago, according to the weekly data released by oilfield services provider Baker Hughes on Friday.
These included 776 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, down three; 169 gas drilling rigs, down five; and one miscellaneous drilling rig, the same as last week, the Houston-based oilfield services company reported.
Of the 946 rigs, 921 are land drilling ones, down five, and 25 offshore drilling ones, down one. The inland water drilling rigs reduced from two to zero.
Of them, 67 are directional drilling rigs, 823 are horizontal drilling rigs and 56 are vertical drilling rigs.
The number of drilling rigs increased the most by four to 36 rigs in the state of Wyoming, but decreased by eight to 47 rigs in North Dakota. The drilling rigs in Texas remained the level at 454 ones.
Oil prices continued to increase on Friday, as the number of U.S. oil rigs declined for the fourth consecutive week.
The West Texas Intermediate for September delivery increased 0.18 U.S. dollar to settle at 56.20 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for September delivery rose 0.07 dollar to close at 63.46 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
