The oil rig count in the U.S. showed an increase this week, according to data released by oilfield services company Baker Hughes on Friday.
The number of oil rigs in the country rose by two for the week ending Nov. 16, bringing the total count to 888 from 886 the week before, the data revealed.
Following the increase in the oil rig count, crude oil prices showed gains in the global market on Friday, with international benchmark Brent crude closing at $66.83 per barrel while American benchmark West Texas Intermediate finished the day at $56.78 a barrel.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed Thursday that crude oil production in the country rose by 111,000 barrels per day (bpd) last week, hitting a new record high level of 11.7 million bpd.
This marked the 36th time that crude oil production increased in the country during the last 44 weeks.
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