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

HOUSTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose to 622 this week, up by two from the previous week but down by 157 from this time last year, according to the weekly data released by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes on Friday.

These active drilling rigs included 500 oil rigs operating in U.S. oil fields, up by two from the previous week; 120 gas rigs, unchanged from last week; and two miscellaneous rigs, the same as last week.