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

HOUSTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States fell to 748 this week, down by seven from the previous week but up by 43 from last year, according to the weekly data released Friday by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

These active drilling rigs included 588 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, down by three from the previous week; 157 gas drilling rigs, down by four from last week; and three miscellaneous rigs, the same as last week.