U.S. energy firms kept the number of oil and natural gas rigs unchanged at a record low as the rig count fell for a fifth straight month, although July marked the smallest monthly decline due to a recovery in prices.
The rig count, an early indicator of future output, steadied at the all-time low of 251 in the week to July 31, according to data on Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co going back to 1940.
Before this week, the count had hit all-time lows for 12 straight weeks.
In July, drillers cut 14 rigs, putting the count down for a fifth month in a row, albeit the smallest cut since February before the coronavirus crisis hit oil demand.
U.S. oil rigs fell by one to 180 this week, while gas rigs rose one to 69.
U.S. crude oil production plummeted a record 2 million barrels per day in May to 10 million bpd, the government said in a monthly report.
Exxon Mobil Corp slashed capital spending 30% this year to around $23 billion, and Senior Vice President Neil Chapman said it expects to spend less than $19 billion in next year. That would be the lowest spending for the company since at least 2005.
Even though U.S. oil prices are still down about 35% since the start of the year due to coronavirus demand destruction, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures have jumped 112% over the past three months to around $40 a barrel on Friday on hopes global economies and energy demand will snap back as governments lift lockdowns.
Analysts said higher oil prices will encourage energy firms to slow rig count reductions and possibly start adding some units later this year.
Energy data provider Enverus, which compiles its own rig count report, said the number of rigs rose 2.5% in the last month as the exploration and production industry started bringing rigs back in the $40 WTI price environment.