HOUSTON, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of rigs drilling for oil and gas in the United States increased by three, and one for oil-seeking, two for gas-drilling, according to weekly data collected by Houston's Baker Hughes oilfield services firm on Friday.
This brought a total rig count to 981, which is an addition of 225 rigs year over year. Of them, 181 for gas-seeking, 800 for oil-drilling.
Texas is home to 483 rigs overall, while Oklahoma is second with 124 rigs. New Mexico is next with 88 rigs.
Despite this week's jump, the oil rig count is down from its peak of 1,609 in October 2014, before oil prices began plummeting.
On Friday, both the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and the Brent barrel were trading down on the day. The market bristled in early trading after President Donald Trump on Thursday announced his plan for imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Many in the oil industry were concern about higher costs for infrastructure projects due to the tariffs imposed by Trump administration.
