HOUSTON — Oil field services company Baker Hughes said the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. last week declined by eight to 877.

Houston-based Baker Hughes said Friday 675 rigs were seeking oil and 202 explored for natural gas.

A year ago, with oil prices nearly double the prices now, 1,914 rigs were active. Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained three rigs.

Louisiana lost six rigs, New Mexico was down by two and Colorado, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania each decreased by one.