The oil rig count in the U.S. showed a decrease this week, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes on Wednesday.
The number of oil rigs in the country fell by three from Nov. 17 to 21, bringing the total count to 885 from 888 the week before, the data revealed.
The weekly data, which is normally released on Fridays, was published two days earlier as Thursday and Friday are public holidays in the U.S. this week due to the Thanksgiving weekend.
Following the decrease in the oil rig count, crude oil prices showed gains in the global market on Wednesday, with international benchmark Brent crude closing at $64 per barrel while American benchmark West Texas Intermediate finished the day at $55.42 a barrel.
Brent began Thursday with a drop, opening at $63.56 per barrel after the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed that crude oil production in the country reached 11.7 million barrels per day (bpd) as the weekly crude inventories rose by 4.9 bpd to 446.91 bpd -- its highest level since December 2017.
The U.S.' crude oil production is expected to average 10.9 million bpd in 2018, and 12.1 million bpd in 2019, according to the EIA's Short-Term Outlook report for November.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr