Including increases in the Marcellus and Haynesville shales, the U.S. natural gas rig count rose two units to 115 during the week ended Friday (Jan. 28), according to the latest count from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

US rigs

Domestic oil-directed drilling increased by four rigs for the period, lifting the combined domestic tally to 610, up from a year-earlier total of 384. All of the week’s gains occurred on land, while the Gulf of Mexico count held steady at 18, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Nine horizontal units were added overall in the United States for the week, offsetting declines of two vertical units and one directional unit.

The Canadian rig count climbed five units for the week to end at 217, up from 174...