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

HOUSTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States fell to 711 this week, down by nine from the previous week and by 16 from last year, according to the weekly data released Friday by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes.

These active drilling rigs included 570 oil rigs operating in the U.S. oil fields, down by five from the previous week; 137 gas drilling rigs, down by four from last week; and four miscellaneous rigs, same as last week.