Rigs targeting oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by seven this week to 1,771, according to Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) Oil rigs rose by two to 1,425, data posted on the company’s website show. The gas count advanced five to 342, the Houston-based field services company said. The total rig count rebounded after storms that poured rain, snow and ice across the eastern half of the U.S. slowed oil- and gas-drilling operations in major basins. “Operations in our completion and production services segment either slowed dramatically or ceased altogether in the extreme cold,” Tony Petrello, chief executive officer of Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) , the world’s largest land-rig contractor, said in a conference call with analysts Feb. 19. U.S. oil output climbed for a second straight week in the seven days ended Feb. 14, adding 16,000 barrels a day, or 0.2 percent, to 8.15 million, data compiled […]