Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week operated

the same number of oil and natural gas rigs as they did last

week, 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, was unchanged at 589 in the week to Dec. 13,

Baker Hughes ( BKR )

said.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said the total count remained down from a year

ago by 34 rigs, or 5%.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said oil rigs held steady at 482 this week,

while gas rigs rose by one to 103, their highest since July.

In 2023, the oil and gas rig count dropped about 20%

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 down about 1% so far in 2024

after dropping by 11% in 2023. U.S. gas futures were up

30% so far in 2024 after plunging by 44% in 2023.

U.S. crude output was on track to rise from a record 12.9

million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023 to 13.2 million bpd in

2024 and 13.5 million bpd in 2025, according to the latest U.S.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) outlook.

On the gas side, several producers reduced drilling

activities this year after monthly average spot prices at the

U.S. Henry Hub benchmark in Louisiana plunged to a

32-year low in March, and have remained relatively low since

then.

That reduction in drilling activity should cause U.S. gas

output to decline for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic

cut demand for the fuel in 2020.

EIA projected gas output would slide to 103.2 billion cubic

feet per day (bcfd) in 2024, down from a record high of 103.8

bcfd in 2023.