June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the

number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to the lowest since

January 2022, energy services firm Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said in

its closely followed report on Friday.

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

output, fell by six to 594 in the week to June 7, decreasing for

the second time in three weeks.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said that puts the total rig count down 101, or

15% below this time last year.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said oil rigs fell four to 492 this week, also

their lowest since January 2022, while gas rigs dropped by two

to 98, their lowest since October 2021.

The oil and gas rig count dropped about 20% in 2023

after rising by 33% in 2022 and 67% in 2021, due to a decline in

oil and gas prices, higher labor and equipment costs from

soaring inflation and as companies focused on paying down debt

and boosting shareholder returns instead of raising output.

U.S. oil futures were up about 6% so far in 2024

after dropping by 11% in 2023, while U.S. gas futures

were up about 16% so far in 2024 after plunging by 44% in 2023.

That increase in oil prices should encourage drillers to

boost U.S. crude output from a record 12.9 million barrels per

day (bpd) in 2023 to 13.2 million bpd in 2024 and 13.7 million

bpd in 2025, according to the latest U.S. Energy Information

Administration (EIA) outlook.

Even though gas futures were trading higher now, several

producers reduced spending on drilling activities earlier in the

year after prices drop to 3-1/2-year lows in February and March.

That drilling decline should cause U.S. gas output to slide

to 103.0 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2024, down from a

record high of 103.8 bcfd in 2023, according to the EIA.