據管道&天然氣雜志網8月13日路透社報道，自4月以來，美國能源公司本周石油鉆機增幅最大的一周，由于原油價格回升，鉆機總數較一年前的紀錄低點增加了一倍以上。

　　據能源服務公司貝克休斯公司（Baker Hughes Co.）周五在其密切關注的報告中表示，作為未來產量早期指標的石油和天然氣鉆機總數連續第二周上升，截至8月13日當周增加9臺，至500臺，為2020年4月以來的最高水平。

　　根據可以追溯到1940年數據的貝克休斯公司數據顯示，總鉆機數量增加256臺，較去年同期創紀錄低點的244臺，增幅達105%。

　　本周，美國石油鉆機數量增加10臺，至397臺，也是2020年4月以來的最高水平，高于一年前的172臺，這是2005年頁巖氣繁榮提振活動前的最低水平。

　　根據追溯到1987年數據的貝克休斯公司數據顯示，天然氣鉆機數量下降1臺，降至102臺，但仍高于2020年7月68臺的歷史低點。

　　據貝克休斯表示，本周新增的鉆機主要分布在德克薩斯州南部的鷹福特（Eagle Ford）(4臺)、北達科他州和蒙大拿州的Williston(4臺)、德克薩斯州西部和新墨西哥州東部的二疊紀(4臺)。

　　擁有密切關注鉆機數量的能源數據提供商Enverus表示，截至8月11日當周，活躍鉆機數量增加8臺，達到575臺，其中大部分增加分布在阿巴拉契亞和二疊紀。

　　美國原油期貨周五交易價格約為每桶68美元，本周基準價格小幅上漲，盡管由于冠狀病毒變異的傳播，石油需求增長急劇放緩。

　　盡管今年迄今為止油價上漲了41%以上，但大多數能源公司仍然專注于將資本返還給投資者。在過去兩年削減鉆井和完井支出后，一些公司在2021年增加支出，盡管分析師認為這只會取代油井產量的自然下降。

　　美國能源信息管理局（EIA）周二在一份月度報告中表示，預計2021年美國原油日產量將下降16萬桶，降至1112萬桶，降幅小于此前預測的21萬桶。

　　郝芬 譯自 管道&天然氣雜志網

　　原文如下：

　　U.S. Drillers Add Most Oil Rigs in a Week Since April - Baker Hughes

　　U.S. energy firms added the most oil rigs in a week since April as the total rig count more than doubled from a record low a year ago amid a recovery in crude prices.

　　The combined oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, was up for the second week in a row, increasing nine to 500 in the week to Aug. 13, its highest since April 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday.

　　The total rig count was up 256 rigs, or 105%, from a record low of 244 this time last year, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1940.

　　U.S. oil rigs rose 10 to 397 this week, also their highest since April 2020, and up from 172 a year ago, which was their lowest since 2005 before the shale boom boosted activity.

　　Gas rigs fell one to 102, but was still up from a record low of 68 in July 2020, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1987.

　　Baker Hughes said most of the rigs drillers added this week were in the Eagle Ford in South Texas (four), Williston in North Dakota and Montana (four) and Permian in West Texas and eastern New Mexico (four).

　　Enverus, a provider of energy data with its own closely watched rig count, said the number of active rigs increased by eight to 575 in the week to Aug. 11 with most of the increases in Appalachia and the Permian.

　　U.S. crude futures were trading about $68 a barrel on Friday, putting the benchmark up slightly for the week even though oil demand growth is slowing sharply due to the spread of coronavirus variants.

　　Even though oil prices were over 41% higher so far this year, most energy firms remain focused on returning capital to investors. Some are raising spending in 2021 after cutting drilling and completion expenditures over the past two years although analysts think it will only replace natural declines in well production.

　　U.S. crude oil production is expected to fall by 160,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2021 to 11.12 million bpd, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a monthly report on Tuesday, a smaller decline than its previous forecast for a drop of 210,000 bpd.