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United States drillers cut oil and gas rigs for 3rd week in a row - Baker Hughes

U.S. energy companies this week cut the variety of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a 3rd week in a row for the very first time because October, energy services company Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indication of future output, fell by one to 620 in the week to April 5, the most affordable considering that early February. << RIG-USA-BHI >< RIG-OL-USA-BHI >.< RIG-GS-USA-BHI>> the overall rig count down 131, or. 17%, below this time last year. Baker Hughes stated oil well increased 2 to 508

this week, while. gas rigs fell by two to 110, their least expensive considering that January 2022. The oil and gas rig count dropped about 20% in

2023. after rising by 33 %in 2022 and 67% in 2021, due to a decrease in. oil and gas rates, higher labor and equipment costs from. skyrocketing inflation and as business concentrated on paying for debt. and improving investor returns instead of raising output. U.S. oil futures were up about 22% up until now in 2024. after stopping by 11% in 2023. U.S. gas futures,. on the other hand, were down about 28% so far in 2024 after plunging by. 44% in 2023.

That increase in oil rates must motivate drillers to. increase U.S. crude output from a record 12.9 million barrels per. day (bpd) in 2023 to 13.2 million bpd in 2024 and 13.6 million. bpd in 2025, according to the latest U.S. Energy Details. Administration (EIA) outlook.

But the drop in gas prices to a 3-1/2- year low in February. and March will cut U.S. gas output to 103.4 billion cubic feet. per day (bcfd) in 2024 from a record 103.8 bcfd in 2023,. according to the EIA, as some producers slash costs and. minimize drilling activities.

Analysts, nevertheless, said it might take a few months for those. prepared gas rig reductions to show up in the information.

(source: Reuters)