HOUSTON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States fell by five to 855 this week, down 197 rigs year-on-year, according to the weekly data released by Baker Hughes on Friday.
According to the Houston-based oilfield services company, these active drilling rigs included 710 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, down three; 144 gas drilling rigs, down two; and the miscellaneous rig remained at one.
Of the 855 rigs, 830 are land drilling rigs, down five, and offshore drilling rigs and inland waters drilling rig remained level at 24 and one, respectively.
Of them, 54 are directional drilling rigs, 749 are horizontal drilling rigs and 52 are vertical drilling rigs.
The number of drilling rigs increased the most by four to 113 ones in the state of New Mexico, while Texas lost the most with four to 414 ones.
Oil prices rose on Friday as the newly-released U.S. jobs data eased concerns that a slowing global economy could weigh on energy demand.
The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery climbed 0.36 U.S. dollar to settle at 52.81 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for December delivery advanced 0.66 dollar to close at 58.37 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
