Chesapeake Energy Corp. has announced plans to increase its drilling budget and rig count in 2017, saying that confidence is growing in the hard-hit energy market.    

Since 2015, 88 oil and gas companies in the U.S. have declared bankruptcy, according to industry analysts.

Chesapeake Energy President and CEO Doug Lawler gave News 9 a rare television interview this week, wanting to communicate to people in this city and, more broadly, across the state, that the company is doing well, despite a poor year for the oil and gas industry.