Still not good: Louisiana gained one active rig this week and now has 47 rigs actively exploring for oil or gas, according to Houston-based oilfield services firm Baker Hughes Inc. In comparison, the state had 108 active rigs a year ago. Across the U.S., the rig count fell by 30 this week to 541. Of those, 439 rigs sought oil and 102 explored for natural gas amid depressed energy prices. A year ago, 1,358 rigs were active. Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas declined by 14 rigs, New Mexico and Oklahoma each dropped four and North Dakota was down three. Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wyoming lost two apiece and Kansas was off by one. The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981 and bottomed at 488 in 1999.
On the rise: First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Feb. 6 increased from the previous week’s total, The Associated Press reports. The state labor department figures released today show initial claims rose to 3,084 from the previous week’s total of 3,083. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 2,939. The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure of claims, decreased to 3,078 from the previous week’s average of 3,357. Continued unemployment claims claimed for the week ending Feb. 6 decreased to 23,156 compared to 23,287 the previous week. The four-week moving average for such claims decreased to 23,244 from the previous week’s average of 23,288.
Packing up: Oklahoma-based Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. has announced it will close its H&P Rig 105 in the Gulf of Mexico after a contract cancellation, meaning about 40 to 50 offshore workers will be laid off. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the company will help the affected workers with unemployment insurance benefits and employment options. The Tulsa World reports the oil and gas exploration and production company laid off 40 workers from its headquarters on Feb. 4 amid low oil prices.
