能源服务公司贝克休斯公司在 2 月 3 日备受关注的报告中表示，美国能源公司本周削减了自 2020 年 6 月以来最大的石油和天然气钻井平台数量。

截至 2 月 3 日当周，石油和天然气钻机数量（未来产量的早期指标）减少了 12 座，至 759 座，为 9 月以来的最低水平。

贝克休斯表示，尽管本周钻机数量有所下降，但与去年同期相比，钻机总数仍增加了 146 座，即 24%。

本周，美国石油钻井平台减少 10 座，至 599 座，为 9 月份以来的最低水平，天然气钻井平台减少 2 座，至 158 座。

美国石油期货在 2022 年上涨约 7% 后，今年迄今已下跌约 8%。与此同时，美国天然气期货在去年上涨约 20% 后，今年迄今已下跌约 46%。

总体而言，根据联邦能源数据，美国原油产量有望从 2022 年的 11.9 MMbbl/d 增至 2023 年的 12.4 MMbbl/d 和 2024 年的 12.8 MMbbl/d。相比之下，2019 年的记录为 12.3 MMbbl/d。

根据联邦能源数据，天然气产量预计将从 2022 年创纪录的 98.02 Bcf/d 增至 2023 年的 100.34 Bcf/d，到 2024 年增至 102.29 Bcf/d。

然而，天然气消耗量有望从 2022 年创纪录的 88.72 Bcf/d 降至 2023 年的 86.74 Bcf/d，2024 年降至 85.79 Bcf/d。

Tudor Pickering Holt & Co.的分析师表示，天然气市场正面临供应过剩的局面，天然气“价格需要走低，以清除不必要的供应增长……迫使运营商停止钻探计划。”

钻井承包商 Helmerich & Payne 本周警告称，天然气价格疲软可能会促使钻井工作发生转变，一些设备将转移到页岩地区，更加专注于石油生产。

它还表示，石油和天然气生产商的预算预计在 2023 年“适度增加”，预计未来几个月的活动也将小幅增长。

埃克森美孚公司 (Exxon Mobil Corp.) 本周公布了创纪录的年利润 560 亿美元，去年新石油和天然气项目的支出增加了 37%，达到 227 亿美元。

埃克森美孚首席执行官达伦·伍兹 (Darren Woods) 表示，今年的投资可能高达 250 亿美元，部分原因是二叠纪盆地成本上升，通货膨胀率达到两位数，对设备和服务的需求“非常非常热”。

U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs by the most since June 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co. said in its closely followed report on Feb. 3.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by 12 to 759 in the week to Feb. 3, the lowest since September.

Despite this week's rig decline, Baker Hughes said the total count was still up 146 rigs, or 24%, over this time last year.

U.S. oil rigs fell 10 to 599 this week, their lowest since September, while gas rigs dropped by two to 158.

U.S. oil futures were down about 8% so far this year after gaining about 7% in 2022. U.S. gas futures, meanwhile, have plunged about 46% so far this year after rising about 20% last year.

Overall, U.S. crude production was on track to rise from 11.9 MMbbl/d in 2022 to 12.4 MMbbl/d in 2023 and 12.8 MMbbl/d in 2024, according to federal energy data. That compares with a record 12.3 MMbbl/d in 2019.

Gas production was to rise on track to 100.34 Bcf/d in 2023 and 102.29 Bcf/d in 2024 from a record 98.02 Bcf/d in 2022, according to federal energy data.

Gas consumption, however, was on track to fall to 86.74 Bcf/d in 2023 and 85.79 Bcf/d in 2024 from a record 88.72 Bcf/d in 2022.

Analysts at Tudor Pickering Holt & Co. said the gas market was heading for an oversupply situation and the gas "price needs to head lower to clear the decks of unwarranted supply growth... to force operators to shut down drilling plans."

Drilling contractor Helmerich & Payne this week warned that weaker gas prices could prompt a shift in drilling work, with some equipment moving to shale regions more heavily focused on oil production.

It also said oil and gas producer budgets are slated to be "moderately higher" in 2023, with activity also anticipated to grow modestly in the coming months.

Exxon Mobil Corp., which this week posted record annual profits of $56 billion, boosted spending in new oil and gas projects last year by 37% to $22.7 billion.

Investments can go up to $25 billion this year, Exxon CEO Darren Woods said, part of it explained by rising costs in the Permian, with inflation in the double digits, amid "really, really hot" demand for equipment and services.