Bolstered by activity gains in the Denver Julesburg (DJ)-Niobrara Basin, the U.S. rig count rose two units to reach 771 for the week ended Friday (Oct. 21), according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count

Net changes domestically included a two-rig increase in oil-directed drilling, with natural gas-directed drilling unchanged for the period. Total land rigs increased by one, with one rig added in the Gulf of Mexico. An increase of three horizontal rigs was partially offset by a one-rig decline in vertical drilling.

The combined 771 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 542 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Canada, meanwhile, dropped six units — all...