The number of oil rigs operating in the U.S. fell by 3 to 485, according to data Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes.
The delay stalls a decision on whether ExxonMobil (XOM) has a right of first refusal over Hess' lucrative Guyana operations.
Oil prices rallied this week as U.S. crude and gasoline inventories fell just as hurricane season began and threatens to bring some supply offline.