U.S. energy firms last week added oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row as the federal government seeks more production to help its allies wean themselves off Russian oil and gas after Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The Kremlin calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation.” The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose 16 to 689 in the week to April 8, its highest since March 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co said in its closely followed report on Friday. , , Baker Hughes said that puts the total rig count up 257 rigs, or 59%, over this time last year. U.S. oil rigs rose 13 to 546 this week, their highest since April 2020, while gas rigs rose three to 141, their highest since October 2019. More than half […]