U.S. Rig Count Rises Alongside Oil Prices

The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose by 2 this week, keeping the total rig count at 588, as oil prices remain strong despite the fresh wave of Covid-19 cases brought by the new variant of the coronavirus amid several oil disruptions around the globe, including in Libya, Ecuador, and Kazahkstan. Last week's count compared with an unchanged rig count of 586 during the previous week. Baker Hughes reported the total active rig figure was 228 rigs higher than the rig count this time in 2021. Oil-directed rigs were up…