HOUSTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of active oil and gas rigs in the United States decreased by one this week, according to weekly data collected by Houston-based Baker Hughes energy services firm on Friday.
Six oil rigs were added and gas rigs were down by seven, bringing the number of active rigs down to 946.
Oil prices have continued to surge since late 2017 with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) now hovering above 65 U.S. dollars a barrel. Oil prices are now at their highest since December 2014.
U.S. crude oil production rose again, to 9.919 million barrels per day, from 9.878 million barrels per day the week before, setting another new high and getting close to the psychologically level of 10 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil production surpassed 10 million barrels per day in November 2017, the first time since 1970, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Thursday.
According to EIA's latest Petroleum Supply Monthly report, U.S. crude oil production reached 10.038 million barrels per day in November 2017, which is also the second-highest U.S. monthly oil production value ever, just below the November 1970 production value of 10.044 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil production has increased significantly over the past 10 years, driven mainly by production from tight rock formations, including shale and other fine-grained rock using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to improve efficiency.
