HOUSTON, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of active oil and gas rigs in the United States increased by 11 this week, according weekly data collected by Houston-based Baker Hughes energy services firm on Friday.

The booming Permian Basin in western Texas triggered an overall increase of 11 rigs - 12 new oil rigs minus one gas-seeking rig, bringing the nation's overall active rig count up to 947.

Apart from Texas and New Mexico, the only other state to show growth was gassy West Virginia, which gained four rigs and kept the natural gas rig count from plummeting further. Two gas-drilling rigs also were removed from the Gulf of Mexico.

The number of oil rigs stands at 759 versus 566 a year ago. The number of gas rigs now stands at 188, up 145 a year ago.

Oil prices are continuing their surge from late 2017 into 2018 with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) now hovering above 66 U.S. dollars a barrel. That's the highest since December 2014.

Texas is home to 466 rigs overall, while Oklahoma is second with 117 rigs, following by New Mexico with 85 rigs.