Baker Hughes on Friday reported that the number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil was up by two to 497 this week. That followed a climb of four oil rigs the week before, Baker Hughes data show. The total active U.S. rig count, which includes those drilling for natural gas, climbed by three to 613, according to Baker Hughes. Oil prices continued to trade higher in Friday dealings, buoyed by risks to U.S. and global supplies. March West Texas Intermediate crude was up $2.17, or 2.4%, at $92.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
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