U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for the second time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday.
U.S. oil and gas drilling has slowed in response to the fall in prices over the last 18 months, but that has not yet translated into slower production, keeping prices under pressure.
The head of the largest U.S. oil and gas lobby group on Wednesday said that if regulators slow down or stop approving liquefied natural gas exports, they will put allies in Europe and Asia at risk.