The U.S. rig count leaped 15 this week, the largest increase since May, with oil prices surging past $63 a barrel and confidence returning to the patch.
Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes, a GE company, reported Friday that the number of oil rigs in U.S. fields jumped 10 to 752; gas rigs five to 187.
The total, 939, was still 19 off its recent peak of 958, at the end of July.
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Still, the count has risen 280 over this time last year, with oil rigs up 230, gas 51, and miscellaneous rigs down one.
The U.S. offshore count is up two since last week to 19, downs six year-over-year.
The Louisiana and New Mexico count rose five rigs each, Oklahoma three, Colorado two, Utah and Alaska one each. Texas lost two.
U.S. oil prices leaped above $63 a barrel this week, closing Thursday at $63.80, a rise of 23 cents or less than one percent.