據能源世界網9月12日報道，美國能源公司4周來首次削減了油氣鉆機的數量，盡管過去幾個月原油價格從疫情低點反彈，促使一些生產商重返井場。

根據能源服務公司貝克休斯周五發布的數據顯示，截至9月11日當周，美國油氣鉆機數量(未來產量的早期指標)減少2臺，至254臺。

在截至8月14日當周，鉆機總數降至244臺的歷史最低點。較去年同期減少632臺，降幅71%。

根據貝克休斯數據顯示，美國石油鉆機數量本周減少1臺，至180臺，天然氣鉆機數量也減少1臺，至71個臺。

美國政府周三表示，預計今年美國原油日產量將下降87萬桶，至1,138萬桶，降幅小于上月預測的99萬桶。

盡管由于疫情破壞了需求，自年初以來美國油價仍下跌了約38％，但美國原油期貨在過去五個月中已上漲了100％，至周五的每桶約37美元，主要由于全球經濟和能源需求有望隨著政府解除封鎖而恢復。

據分析師表示，油價上漲促使一些能源公司在最近幾周開始增加產能。然而，大多數公司仍計劃繼續削減成本。

美國金融服務公司Cowen&Co表示，該公司跟蹤的獨立勘探和生產(E&P)公司計劃今年與2019年相比支出將削減47%左右。在此之前，資本支出在2019年減少了約9%，在2018年增加了約23%。

Cowen還表示，一些勘探與生產公司發布了2021年的早期估算，與今年相比，明年的支出將下降8％。

郝芬 譯自 能源世界

原文如下：

US oil & gas rig count falls for the first time in four weeks: Baker Hughes

US energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the first time in four weeks even as a rebound in crude prices from coronavirus lows over the past few months prompted some producers to return to the wellpad.

The US oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by two to 254 in the week to Sep. 11, according to data on Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes Co .

That total rig count fell to a record low of 244 rigs during the week ended Aug. 14.

That was 632 rigs, or 71 per cent, below this time last year.

US oil rigs fell one to 180 this week, while gas rigs also declined by one to 71, according to Baker Hughes data.

US crude oil production is expected to fall 870,000 barrels per day to 11.38 million bpd this year, a less steep decline than the 990,000 bpd forecast last month, the US government said on Wednesday.

Even though US oil prices are still down about 38 per cent since the start of the year due to coronavirus demand destruction, US crude futures have gained 100 per cent over the past five months to around $37 a barrel on Friday mostly on hopes global economies and energy demand will snap back as governments lift lockdowns.

Analysts said those higher oil prices have encouraged some energy firms to start adding units in recent weeks.

Most firms, however, still plan to keep cutting costs.

US financial services firm Cowen & Co said the independent exploration and production (E&P) companies it tracks plan to slash spending by about 47 per cent in 2020 versus 2019. That follows a capex reduction of roughly 9 per cent in 2019 and an increase of around 23 per cent in 2018.

Cowen also said that some E&Ps issued early estimates for 2021 that so far point to an 8 per cent drop in spending next year versus 2020.