One to forget: Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. this week declined by four to 767. In its weekly report released today, the Houston-based firm says 574 rigs were seeking oil and 193 explored for natural gas. A year ago, with oil prices about double the prices now, 1,928 rigs were active. Among major oil- and gas-producing states, California and Texas each lost two rigs and Colorado, Louisiana and North Dakota each lost one rig. Louisiana now has 69 operational rigs. Oklahoma gained two rigs and New Mexico gained one. Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming were all unchanged. The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.
Sold!: The Louisiana Mineral and Energy Board says it collected $22,165 in bonus revenue for the state during its monthly meeting and lease sale held on Thursday in Baton Rouge. At this month’s lease sale, the board awarded four leases covering 126 acres, with nominated tracts covering just over 12,834 acres in Calcasieu, Catahoula, Concordia and Terrebonne parishes. Thus far this fiscal year, which began on July 1, the board has collected $3.6 million via the monthly lease sales. Last fiscal year, a total of $14 million was netted in the lease sales, generating more than $432.9 million in royalties for the state.
Ballot boosters: Churches, civic groups and social clubs are invited to join elected officials Saturday for a Baton Rouge Early Vote Rally. The rally will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Galvez Plaza in downtown Baton Rouge. From Galvez Plaza, everyone will walk to the governmental building and early vote together as a community. It will also feature the Southern University Human Jukebox marching band. “This is an important election, and we want to make sure that everyone participates and makes their voices heard,” says State Rep. Ted James in a prepared statement.
