Drillers added three oil rigs in the week to 29 July, bringing the total rig count up to 374, compared with 664 a year ago, according to the closely followed Baker Hughes weekly report.
However, the number of rigs chasing gas decreased by two.
The Permian basin made the biggest gains this week, adding four rigs for a total of 172. New Mexico, which is home to the western part of the play, picked up two rigs for 28.
But
