The U.S. natural gas rig count rose four units to 162 for the week ended Friday (Sept. 2), while a sharp pullback in the Permian Basin saw the overall U.S. rig count fall five units to 760, according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count

Net changes domestically for the week included a nine-rig decline in oil-directed drilling. The combined 760 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 497 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Domestic land drilling declined by three rigs overall, while the Gulf of Mexico count dropped two units to end at 14. Vertical drilling declined by five units, with directional drilling down one rig. Partially offsetting was a one-rig...