The U.S. natural gas rig count rose two units to 157 for the week ended Friday (Nov. 18), while an uptick in the oil patch helped lift the combined domestic drilling total three units higher to 782, according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

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Land drilling increased by four units in the United States for the week, partially offset by a one-rig decline in inland waters. The Gulf of Mexico count held flat at 16. Three horizontal rigs and one vertical rig were added, with total directional rigs down one week/week.

The combined 782 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 563 rigs active in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, rose one...