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June 9 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a sixth week in a row for the first time since July 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 695 in the week to June 9, the lowest since April 2022. , ,U.S. oil rigs rose one to 556 this week, while gas rigs fell two to 135, their lowest since March 2022. Data provider Enverus, which publishes its own rig count data, said drillers cut nine rigs in the week to June 7, dropping the overall count to 750. That compares with a record 12.3 million bpd in 2019. U.S. gas production, meanwhile, was on track to rise from a record 98.13 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2022 to 102.74 bcfd in 2023 and 103.04 bcfd in 2024, according to EIA's projection.

Persons: Baker Hughes, Beth McDonald, McDonald, Goldman Sachs, Scott DiSavino, Marguerita Choy Organizations: drillers, Natural Resources, Organization of Petroleum, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia

Prices rose on Monday after Saudi Arabia said over the weekend it would cut output to around 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from about 10 million bpd in May. A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies. Higher interest rates boost borrowing costs, which can slow the economy and reduce oil demand. EIA also projected U.S. petroleum demand would rise from 20.3 million bpd in 2022 to 20.4 million bpd in 2023 and 20.7 million bpd in 2024. That compares with a record 20.8 million bpd in 2005, according to EIA data going back to 1973.

Persons: Brent, Edward Moya, Scott DiSavino, Rowena Edwards, Arathy, Trixie Yap, David Goodman, Matthew Lewis, Chizu Nomiyama, Richard Chang Organizations: EIA, Saudi, U.S, West Texas, Citi, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank, Energy Information Administration, American Petroleum Institute, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, OPEC, China, U.S, Europe, New York, London, Houston, Singapore

[1/2] A tug boat pushes an oil barge through New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty in New York City, U.S., May 24, 2022. WTI was headed for its highest close since May 26 and Brent on track for its highest close since May 29. Open interest in futures contracts rose on Thursday to the highest since July 2021 for Brent and March 2022 for WTI. Oil traders have turned their attention to the June 4 meeting of OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. On the demand side, manufacturing data out of China, the world's second biggest oil consumer, painted a mixed picture.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Brent, WTI, Baker Hughes, Craig Erlam, Erlam, Shadia Nasralla, Andrew Hayley, Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Congress, YORK, U.S, . West Texas, WTI, Senate, U.S . Federal Reserve, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: New York Harbor, of, New York City, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, London, Beijing

The higher crude output came as production in Texas rose 1.8% to 5.398 million bpd, also its highest since March 2020, the EIA data showed. Consumption of crude oil has ticked higher since the pandemic, and after Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused a global reshuffling of oil and its products. Production in North Dakota fell 2.9% to 1.095 million bpd, the lowest since January. In New Mexico, output gained 1.2% to a record high 1.824 million bpd. Meanwhile, U.S. product supplied of crude and petroleum products - a proxy for demand - rose to 20.449 million bpd, the highest since November 2022, EIA data showed.

Persons: Stephanie Kelly, Scott DiSavino, Marguerita Choy Organizations: YORK, Energy, Thomson Locations: Texas, Ukraine, North Dakota, New Mexico

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 97 cents, or 1.3%, to settle at $71.86. A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies. High interest rates boost borrowing costs, which can slow the economy and reduce oil demand. The strength of April U.S. economic data in addition to optimism about the debt ceiling negotiations have strengthened market expectations of a further hike, ANZ Research said in a note on Thursday. Another factor that could reduce oil demand was a fire in Mexico at the Salina Cruz refinery owned by Mexican state oil company Pemex.

On its last day as the front-month, Brent futures for June delivery rose $1.13, or 1.4%, to $79.50 a barrel by 1:54 p.m. EDT (1754 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.92, or 2.6%, to $76.68. "But, today there were headlines showing there may be a solution to the First Republic problem, and there was data pointing to a rise in oil demand and a decline in output," Flynn said. Fuel demand rose to nearly 20 million bpd, its highest since November, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Crude prices have been lower in recent weeks and months due to uncertainty over further interest rate hikes that could reduce demand for oil.

TOKYO, April 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices gained about 2% on Friday after U.S. data showed crude output was declining while fuel demand was growing. Brent crude futures rose $1.16, or 1.5%, to $79.53 a barrel by 12:24 p.m. EDT (1624 GMT), while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $1.99, or 2.7%, to $76.75. "But, today there were headlines showing there may be a solution to First Republic's problems and data pointing to a rise in oil demand and a decline in output," Flynn said. In the same report, the EIA said U.S. product supplied of crude and petroleum products - a proxy for oil demand - rose to nearly 20 million bpd and finished motor gasoline rose to 8.7 million bpd in February, the highest for both since November 2022. Oil companies like Exxon Mobil Corp(XOM.N), meanwhile, are riding a wave of strong demand and have held the line on cost-cutting implemented when fuel demand collapsed during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Big gas producers including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N) are reducing their drilling. "About a third of U.S. gas production is associated gas - produced from oil wells," said Jacques Rousseau, a managing director at research firm ClearView Energy Partners LLC. Gas from the Permian also has climbed to record highs every month this year. PRODUCTION REMAINS STICKYU.S. gas production remains on track to hit 100.67 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) this year, up from last year's record 98.09 bcfd, according to the U.S. government. Despite low gas prices, U.S. drillers have 160 rigs seeking gas up 16% from a year ago, according to data from Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O).

March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs, with the quarterly count dropping for the first time since 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. U.S. oil rigs fell one to 592 this week, while gas rigs decreased two to 160. For the month, the total oil and gas rig count rose two rigs, the first monthly increase since November. For the quarter, the total oil and gas rig count fell by 24 rigs, the first quarterly decline since the third quarter of 2020. The drop in gas prices has already caused some exploration and production companies, including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O), Southwestern Energy Co (SWN.N) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N), to announce plans to reduce production by cutting some gas rigs.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 64 cents, or 0.9%, to $70.31. The U.S. dollar fell to its lowest level since Feb. 3 against a basket of other currencies, supporting oil demand by making crude cheaper for buyers using other currencies. "The big story here is that build ... in crude, which is enough to get us to the 22-month high in crude oil storage. We just have a lot of crude oil in storage and it's not going to go away anytime soon," said Bob Yawger at Mizuho, a bank. An emergency rescue of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) over the weekend helped revive oil prices.

Losses were limited by oil supply concerns after Russia halted exports to Poland via a key pipeline. That positive economic data helped global stock markets to rebound, yet shares remained near six-week lows as investors braced for interest rate hikes in the United States and Europe. Adding to global oil demand worries, rising Sino-U.S. tensions hammered equity markets in China and Hong Kong while investors awaited policy signals from the upcoming National People's Congress. On Monday, Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said it started pumping oil from Kazakhstan to Germany via Poland through the Druzhba pipeline, while halting deliveries to Poland. Russia announced plans this month to cut oil exports from its western ports by up to 25% in March versus February, exceeding previously mooted production cuts of 5%.

After a dearth of plant approvals last decade, developers have secured dozens of long-term contracts to finance new multibillion-dollar LNG plants. The United States was long an importer of LNG, but natural gas discoveries and production from the shale revolution flipped the country into an LNG exporter in 2016. U.S. LNG exports hit 10.6 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2022, making the country the second biggest LNG exporter behind Australia. But their production volumes will allow the United States to remain ahead of output from Australia and Qatar. The seven U.S. export plants already in service, including Freeport LNG, can turn about 13.8 billion cubic feet of gas into LNG each day.

REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo/File PhotoNEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday on expectations that global demand will strengthen as top oil importer China reopens its economy and on positive U.S. economic data. Brent futures rose $1.35, or 1.6%, to settle at $87.47 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 86 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $81.01. "Crude prices got an unexpected boost from a U.S. economy that doesn’t want to break," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA. China has been easing stringent COVID-19 restrictions this month, with Beijing reopening borders for the first time in three years. The OPEC+ ministerial panel meeting on Feb. 1 is likely to endorse the oil producer group's current output levels, OPEC+ sources said.

Brent <LCOc1> futures fell 94 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $84.98 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 70 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at 79.48. Markets at first reacted positively to U.S. data, which showed retail sales and manufacturing production declined more than forecast in December, on hopes the Fed would now ease up on interest rate hikes. Supporting oil prices early in the session, China reported economic data that beat forecasts after the country started rolling back its zero-COVID policy in early December. Rystad said the losses were at about 500,000 barrels per day and that India and China remain key buyers of Russian crude.

Brent futures rose 72 cents, or 0.8%, to $86.64 a barrel by 11:46 a.m. EST (1646 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 94 cents, or 1.2%, to $81.12. But the data still beat analysts' forecasts after China started rolling back its zero-COVID policy in early December. The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China is set to boost global oil demand to a record high this year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), while price cap sanctions on Russia could dent supply. A report showing U.S. retail sales fell more than expected in December provided some counterintuitive support for oil prices. A weaker dollar can boost demand for oil, as dollar-denominated commodities become cheaper for holders of other currencies.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.29, or 3.1%, to settle at $77.41. Global equities were up on hopes that U.S. inflation and earnings figures due on Thursday will indicate a resilient economy and result in a slower pace of interest rate hikes. Oil demand is coming back and expectations are high that China’s demand is about to skyrocket," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a 2.2 million-barrel decline in crude stocks, and industry data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showing a 14.9 million-barrel build. ,EIA this week forecast U.S. crude production will reach all-time highs in 2023 and 2024.

For the week, both Brent and WTI were down over 8%, their biggest weekly dives to start the year since 2016. "The oil market might be regaining some composure following the bloodbath earlier this week, but the upside potential remains limited, at least in the near term. That U.S. jobs report caused the U.S. dollar to rally as investors bet that inflation is easing and the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) need not be as aggressive as some feared. A weaker dollar can boost demand for oil, as dollar-denominated commodities become cheaper for holders of other currencies. Stock markets in China, the world's largest crude oil importer, logged a five-day winning streak on Friday on investors' expectations that the Chinese economy would soon emerge from its COVID woes and stage a robust recovery in 2023.

That outage dropped the United States behind top exporter Australia as global demand for the fuel boomed. In 2022, U.S. exports of natural gas as LNG rose 8% to 10.6 bcfd, just shy of Australia's 10.7 bcfd. The United States remained ahead of Qatar, which in third place shipped 10.5 bcfd, according to data provider Refinitiv. CROWN WITHIN SIGHTHowever, the loss of Freeport LNG's supply at mid-year took away the U.S. chance to take the crown as top exporter in 2022. In 2021, when prices in Asia were higher, just 35%, or about 3.3 bcfd, of U.S. LNG exports went to Europe.

More than 1.5 million homes and businesses lost power, oil refineries in Texas cut gasoline and diesel production on equipment failures, and heating and power prices surged on the losses. Oil and gas output from North Dakota to Texas suffered freeze-ins, cutting supplies. Freeze-ins - in which ice crystals halt oil and gas production - this week trimmed production in North Dakota's oilfields by 300,000 to 350,000 barrels per day, or a third of normal. Power prices on Texas's grid also spiked to $3,700 per megawatt hour, prompting generators to add more power to the grid before prices fell back as thermal and solar supplies came online. That is the biggest drop in output since the February 2021 freeze knocked out power for millions in Texas.

Canada is in the midst of building a large terminal to export LNG, but its completion is two years away. Canadian gas production is on track to reach a record 18 bcfd in 2022 and 19 bcfd in 2023, according to energy consultancy Rystad Energy. Pipelines are also constrained in Canada due to swift production growth, particularly TC Energy Corp's (TRP.TO) NGTL pipeline system that ships gas around and out of western Canada. In August, gas prices in Alberta briefly turned negative because of bottlenecks stemming from NGTL maintenance. U.S. LNG exports are expected to reach 10.6 bcfd in 2022 and 12.3 bcfd in 2023, according to federal estimates.

NEW YORK, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices slid about 2% on Thursday as traders worried about the fuel demand outlook due to a stronger dollar and further interest rate hikes by global central banks. "Crude prices edged lower as ... global recession risks increased after a wave of central banks delivered another strong round of tightening. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank will raise interest rates further next year, even as the economy slips toward a possible recession. On Thursday, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank raised interest rates to fight inflation. Also pressuring oil prices, Canada's TC Energy Corp (TRP.TO) said it was resuming operations in a section of its Keystone pipeline, a week after a leak of more than 14,000 barrels of oil in Kansas triggered a shutdown.

During long, cold winters, the U.S. Northeast consumes more oil and gas for heat than most of the country, especially the six-state New England region. Exacerbating those high energy costs, New England lacks enough gas pipeline capacity to meet all its heating and power generation needs on the coldest winter days. "The worse conditions get for Europe, the more exposed New England will be to elevated gas prices and LNG cargo shortages this winter." U.S. pipeline gas costs about $6 per million British thermal units, far cheaper than in Europe where gas is trading around $39 to attract LNG cargoes. But LNG accounts for about 5% of New England's gas supply, so power generators there are competing with global markets for the fuel.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell three to 768 in the week to Oct. 28, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday. , ,Despite this week's rig decline, Baker Hughes said the total count was still up 224, or 41%, over this time last year. U.S. oil rigs fell two to 610 this week, while gas rigs decreased one to 156, their lowest since July. For the month, drillers added three rigs, after activating six oil rigs and cutting three gas rigs. That was the first monthly decrease in gas rigs since August 2021.

Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures jumped about 5% after sliding to a fresh seven-month low earlier in the session on a technical rebound and expectations demand would rise as liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports increase once export plants exit maintenance outages in coming weeks. Some traders expect Freeport will return to service in November while others believe the return will be delayed. Front-month gas futures rose 24.0 cents, or 4.8%, to settle at $5.199 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). During the first nine months of 2022, roughly 60%, or 6.3 bcfd, of U.S. LNG exports went to Europe, as shippers diverted cargoes from Asia to fetch higher prices. Last year, just 29%, or about 2.8 bcfd, of U.S. LNG exports went to Europe.

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