Activity increases in the Permian Basin and Marcellus Shale propelled the U.S. rig count five units higher to 402 for the week ending Friday (Feb. 26), according to updated data from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale rig count Feb 26

Four oil-directed rigs and one natural gas-directed rig were added for the week, bringing the combined domestic total to within 388 units of the 790 rigs active in the year-ago period, according to the BKR numbers. The BKR data is based partly on information provided by Enverus.

Five land units were added, while one rig departed from inland waters. The Gulf of Mexico added one rig to grow its total to 17, versus 22 a year ago. Two directional units and two horizontal units were added in the United States, along with one vertical unit.

The Canadian rig count fell nine units...