U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs for the sixth time in seven weeks as oil prices rose to their highest since 2018, although gas drillers have slowed down their activity. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose five to 461 in the week to June 11, 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 up 182 rigs, or 65%, over this time last year. It was also up 89% since falling to a record low of 244 in August 2020, according to Baker Hughes data going back to 1940. In their biggest ... (full story)