The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by six this week to 1,928. A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,790.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained 14 rigs, Oklahoma added five and Alaska and California each gained one. Louisiana lost nine rigs, [...]

The number of oil and gas rigs operating in the U.S. last week rose by five from the previous week, to 1,906, according to Baker Hughes Inc., which tracks rigs worldwide.
That compares with 1,771 rigs running a year ago.
Of the current total, 1,514 are exploring for gas, 384 for oil and eight are considered “miscellaneous.”
There [...]

The Gulf Coast oil drilling expansion President Bush signed into law last year contained a strong environmental sweetener that helped push it through Congress.
Four lucky states - Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas - were slated to get billions in potential royalties, and lawmakers said the money would help reverse damage from offshore industry, paying [...]

Less than half the area on top of and below the Roan Plateau would be opened to natural gas drilling, according to a management plan released Thursday. The remainder would see protections designed to preserve wildlife, views and rare plants.
With the western flank of the Roan Plateau in view, Bureau of Land Management officials unveiled [...]