HOUSTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. drillers added a single oil rig this week, ending a three consecutive weeks of declines in the oil rig count, oil field services firm Baker Hughes reported Friday.
The number of rigs seeking oil rose to 737 from 736 last week, said the report. That's still about 30 fewer than the recent peak in August, when 768 oil rigs were operating in the United States.
Crude oil rigs count has slowed as oil prices have stagnated around 50 U.S. dollars a barrel recently. But prices this week have begun to climb on hopes of extended OPEC production cuts and falling petroleum inventories.
The overall rig count, however, slipped by four as five gas drilling rigs were pulled from operation.
The oil rig count is down to 909 from 913 last week and 958 from its recent peak in July, Baker Hughes' report said.
