1322 ET - The U.S. continues adding oil rigs as the Middle East conflict drags on, keeping crude prices high. The number of rigs drilling for oil rose by three this week to 454, Baker Hughes reports, which is 43 more than a year ago when the world was facing prospects of an oil glut. U.S. crude production has risen this year, averaging 13.8 million barrels a day in recent weeks, according to EIA estimates. Rigs drilling for natural gas fell by three this week to 124, or one more than a year ago.