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

HOUSTON, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States increased to 714 this week, up by nine from the previous week and 261 from last year, according to the weekly data released Friday by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

These active drilling rigs included 563 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, up by six from the previous week; 149 gas drilling rigs, up by three from last week; and two miscellaneous rigs, the same as last week.