After some shuffling around in the major U.S. onshore plays, the domestic rig count added two units to finish at 348 for the holiday-shortened week ending Wednesday (Dec. 23), according to Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

An increase of two natural gas-directed units and one oil-directed unit, partially offset by the loss of one miscellaneous unit, left the combined U.S. tally more than 450 units below the 805 rigs active at this time last year, according to the BKR numbers, which are based on data provided in part by Enverus. 

Land drilling increased by one rig, while one rig returned to action in the Gulf of Mexico during the week. One directional unit and one horizontal unit were added, while vertical rigs remained unchanged week/week.

The Canadian rig count fell 20 rigs week/week...