HOUSTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States increased by two this week to 1,048, or 90 more than that this time last year, showed weekly data released by Baker Hughes on Friday.

The Houston-based oilfield services company reported that the number of active oil rigs increased by three to 861 this week with more than half of oil rigs, or 480, were located in the Permian Basin region of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Meanwhile, the number of gas rigs dipped by one, hitting 186 and the number of miscellaneous rigs remained one this week, it said.

Permian Basin led another increase in the number of rigs actively drilling in the country, which tacked on four new active rigs this week, although the nationwide total only grew by two rigs.

Oil prices declined on Friday as U.S. energy companies added oil rigs for the first time in the past three weeks.

The West Texas Intermediate for September delivery fell 0.92 U.S. dollar to settle at 68.69 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for September delivery lost 0.25 dollar to 74.29 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.