UPDATE 1-U.S. oil drillers cut rigs for a 6th week in 7 -Baker Hughes

(Adds details, context and crude oil prices) By Barani Krishnan Dec 31 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms cut oil rigs for a sixth week in the last seven, data showed on Thursday, a sign drillers were still waiting for higher prices before returning to the well pad. Drillers removed 2 oil rigs in the week ended Dec. 31, bringing the total rig count down to 536, oil services company Baker Hughes Inc said in its closely followed report. That decrease brought the total rig count down