據能源世界網5月8日報道，美國能源公司連續第二周增加油氣鉆機數量，因油價上漲促使一些鉆井公司重返井場。

　　能源服務公司貝克休斯(Baker Hughes)周五在其備受關注的報告中稱，截至5月7日的當周，油氣鉆機數量增加了8臺，達到448臺，為2020年4月以來的最高水平。

　　這使得鉆機總數達到74臺，比去年同期增加了20%。根據貝克休斯追溯到1940年的數據顯示，自2020年8月降至244臺的歷史低點以來，這一數字增長了84%。

　　本周，美國石油鉆機增加2臺，達到344臺，天然氣鉆機增加7臺，是2018年12月以來最多的一周，也是2020年3月以來最高的一周，達到103臺。美國原油期貨周五的交易價格約為每桶65美元，在去年下跌約21%之后，今年迄今已上漲約34%。

　　一些能源公司在過去兩年削減開支后，上調了2021年的支出計劃，完井和鉆井活動勢頭良好。

　　但由于大多數公司關注的是股東回報，而不是產量增長，因此產量增長幅度不大，鉆井業務也一直在適度增長。

　　大宗商品情報公司Kpler表示，上市公司更傾向于保留現金，以提高股東回報，而不是提高資本支出，就像西德克薩斯中質原油(WTI)高于60美元時的情況一樣。

　　美國金融服務公司Cowen&Co表示，它跟蹤的獨立勘探與生產（E&P）公司計劃2021年較2020年增加約1%的支出。此前，資本支出在2020年和2019年分別減少了約49%和12%。

　　阿肯色州WTRG Economics的詹姆斯·威廉姆斯表示，我們的前景仍然樂觀……到今年年底，鉆機數量可能會接近600臺。

　　擁有自己鉆機數量的能源數據提供商Enverus表示，截至5月5日的當周，在用鉆機數量穩定在524臺。

　　Enverus表示，先鋒自然資源公司（Pioneer Natural Resources Co）仍然是最活躍的運營商，擁有30臺鉆機(同比增長21臺)，其中包括5月4日收購雙點能源公司(DoublePoint Energy)后新增的9臺。

　　郝芬 譯自 能源世界網

　　原文如下：

　　U.S. drillers add oil and gas rigs for second week in a row -Baker Hughes

　　U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for a second week in a row as higher oil prices prompted some drillers to return to the wellpad.

　　The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose eight to 448 in the week to May 7, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.

　　That put the total rig count 74 rigs, or 20%, higher than this time last year. It was also up 84% since falling to a record low of 244 in August 2020, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1940.

　　U.S. oil rigs rose two to 344 this week, while gas rigs rose the seven, the most in a week since December 2018, the highest since March 2020, to 103. U.S. crude futures were trading around $65 a barrel on Friday, putting the contract up about 34% so far this year after they dropped about 21% last year.

　　Completions and drilling activity have good momentum after some energy firms raised spending plans for 2021 after cutting over the past two years.

　　But as the increases have been small with most firms focusing on shareholder returns over volume growth, drilling captivity has been growing moderately.

　　"Listed companies prefer to preserve cash to improve shareholders returns instead of raising capex as was historically the case with WTI above $60," commodity intelligence company Kpler said.

　　U.S. financial services firm Cowen & Co said the independent exploration and production (E&P) companies it tracks plan to increase spending about 1% in 2021 versus 2020. That follows capex reductions of roughly 49% in 2020 and 12% in 2019.

　　"Our outlook remains positive ... It is likely that rig count will be near 600 before the end of the year," said James Williams at WTRG Economics in Arkansas.

　　Enverus, a provider of energy data with its own rig count, said the number of active rigs in the week to May 5 held steady at 524.

　　Enverus said the most active operator continues to be Pioneer Natural Resources Co at 30 rigs (up by 21 year-over-year), which includes nine that were just added through the acquisition of DoublePoint Energy on May 4.