IN BRIEF : Working Oil, Gas Rigs Rise to 930

HOUSTON — The number of working oil and gas rigs increased by eight to total 930 this week, marking the second consecutive week the rig count has posted a gain, Baker Hughes Inc. reported today.

Last week the count increased by 17 to 922. A year ago the count was 1,168, Baker Hughes said. The count is a widely watched industry index of drilling activity and reflects the number of rigs actively exploring for oil as of last Friday, not the number of rigs actively producing oil. Houston-based Hughes Tool Co., an oil toolmaking company that merged with Baker International Corp. of Orange, Calif., has kept track of the number of working rigs since 1940.