Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week added oil

and gas rigs for a second week in a row, energy services firm

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said on Tuesday.

The oil and gas rig count, an early ‌indicator of future

output, rose by one to 546 in the week to December ​30, its

highest since December 12.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) released the rig ‍count report a few days early

due to ⁠the New Year's ⁠Day holiday.

Despite this week's rig increase, Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said the

total count was ‌still down 43 rigs, or ​7.3% below this time last

year.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said oil rigs rose by three to 412 this week, ⁠their

highest since Dec. 12, while ‍gas ​rigs fell by two to 125, their

lowest since Nov. 14.

The oil and gas rig count declined by about ‍5% in 2024 and

20% in 2023, as lower U.S. oil and gas prices over

the past couple of years prompted energy firms to focus more on

boosting shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than

increasing output.

Even though analysts forecast ​U.S. ‍spot crude prices would

decline for a third year in a row in 2025, the U.S. Energy

Information Administration projected ​crude output would rise

from a record 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to

around 13.6 million bpd in 2025.

On the gas side, EIA projected that U.S. output and demand

will both rise to record highs in 2025.

EIA projected dry gas production will rise ​from 103.2 billion

cubic feet per day in 2024 to 107.7 bcfd in 2025 and 109.1 bcfd

in 2026. That compares with a record 103.6 bcfd ‍in 2023.