U.S. Rig Count Declines First Time in Six Weeks

The number of active rigs drilling for crude oil and natural gas in the United States declined for the first time in six weeks, data showed on Friday.

A decline by a single rig led the total rig count to reach 456 this week, with oil rigs maintaining their level at 359, and gas rigs decreasing by one to 97.

This marked the fourth consecutive weekly decline for natural gas rigs, the longest period in about a year.

In the week to June 4, the rig count rose by 172 rigs, or 61%, on an annual basis.