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

HOUSTON, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States increased to 626 this week, up by one from the previous week but down by 154 from last year, according to the weekly data released by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes on Friday.

These active drilling rigs included 503 oil rigs operating in U.S. oil fields, down by two from the previous week; 119 gas rigs, up by three; and four miscellaneous rigs, down by one.