U.S. oil rig count steady for first this time this year -Baker Hughes

By Scott DiSavino

May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week kept the

number of rigs drilling for oil unchanged for the first time

this year, services company Baker Hughes Inc said on

Friday, as crude futures trade near a seven-month high.

Drillers kept the number of rigs at 318 in the week to May

20, holding at the lowest level since October 2009, Baker Hughes

said in its closely followed report.

Prior to this week, drillers added only one rig so far this

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