US drillers added 10 oil rigs in week ending Dec. 21: Baker Hughes

U.S. energy companies added 10 oil rigs in the week ending Dec 21, bringing the total count to 883, General Electric Co.’s Baker Hughes energy services firm said in its closely followed report on Friday.

The natural gas rig count dropped by one rig at 197 rigs for the week, compared to 184 rigs a year earlier.

The U.S. rig count, an early indicator of future output, is higher than a year ago when 747 rigs were active as energy companies have spent more to capture higher prices.