IN BRIEF : Working Oil, Gas Rigs Rise to 930

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.