The U.S. natural gas rig count dropped eight units to fall to 150 for the week ended Friday (Feb. 10), while a 10-rig increase in oil-directed drilling pushed the overall domestic tally two units higher to 761, according to updated figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Land drilling declined by four units domestically, while the GOM added six rigs week/week to finish with 18, up from 16 in the year-earlier period. Directional drilling increased by five units overall, while vertical drilling declined by three rigs; total horizontal rigs were unchanged week/week.

The combined 761 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 635 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile,...