More oil, gas rigs deployed in U.S.

HOUSTON, May 7 (UPI) -- There were 80 more rigs actively looking for oil or gas in the United States than at the same time last year, oil services company Baker Hughes said Wednesday.

Baker Hughes published its monthly rig count for April, noting the number of rigs looking for or developing oil or natural gas worldwide.

For the United States, the oil services company counted 1,835 rigs, up 32 from March and up 80 from April 2013.

Oil production in the United States is accelerating. By 2015, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects oil production to reach 9.2 million barrels per day, the highest level since 1972.

The U.S. trend was replicated for Canada, where Baker Hughes counted 51 more rigs from April 2013. The April count for Canada of 204 was down, however, from the 449 counted in March.

Globally, Baker Hughes said the 3,388 rigs counted in April were down 209 from the previous month and 179 lower year-on-year.