Number of active U.S. drilling rigs decreases this week

HOUSTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased by four to 247 this week, down by 687 year on year, according to the weekly data released Friday by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

These active drilling rigs included 176 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, down by four from the previous week; 69 gas drilling rigs and two miscellaneous rigs, both unchanged from last week.