US Oil Drillers Continue to Play It Safe

The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count in the US slipped to 538, according to Baker Hughes, down 47 from this same time last year. The rig count is still near four-year lows. The number of oil rigs fell by 1, landing at 411. Year over year, this represents a 72-rig decline. The number of gas rigs stayed the same this week, at 122, for a gain of 25 active gas rigs from this time last year. The miscellaneous rig…