Reuters reported that state oil giant Saudi Aramco plans to raise the number of drilling rigs it operates to pre crisis levels of at least 130 by the second quarter of 2012 as it strives to maintain production capacity levels.

Aramco had seen a sharp decline in rig count from 130 to 104 after the global economic crisis hit demand in 2009.

Half of the addition will be for Manifa, an industry source who declined to be identified told Reuters, as Aramco expedited plans to bring the 900,000 barrels per day oil field on line by 2014.

Industry sources had expected Aramco to keep the level of rigs it operates little changed from 2010 but following disruptions to Libya's output earlier this year Saudi Arabia increased output.

In March 2011, Simmons & Co analyst Mr Bill Herbert said the state run energy firm met leading oil service companies including Halliburton to discuss plans to boost the country's rig count in 2011 and next year to 118, from around 92 then.

The largest OPEC producer and the world's largest oil exporter is pumping oil at the highest rate for decades. Saudi Oil Minister Mr Ali Al Naimi said last week the kingdom's output in November was 10.047 million barrels per day.

It exported 8.1 million barrels per day of oil in November 2011, 1.2 million more than its average daily exports during the first nine months of 2011.

The number of rigs Aramco operates fluctuates depending on oil market needs.

(Sourced from www.reuters.com)