U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs for a third week in a row even as they slowly increase production to pre-pandemic levels with shale oil output expected to hit its highest since March 2020. The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 762 in the week to Aug. 19, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. , , That was the first time drillers cut the rig count for three consecutive weeks since July 2020. U.S. oil rigs were unchanged at 601 this week, while gas rigs fell one to 159. The total rig count has climbed for a record 24 months through July, but weekly increases have mostly been in the single digits and oil production remains below pre-pandemic […]