The U.S. natural gas rig count eased one unit lower to 117 for the week ending Friday (Oct. 27), while a modest bump in oil drilling lifted the combined domestic tally one unit overall to 625, according to the latest numbers published by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Land drilling increased by one unit for the period, while Gulf of Mexico rigs held flat at 22. Gains included three directional rigs and one horizontal rig, partly offset by a three-rig decline in vertical drilling.

The combined 625 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 768 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count dropped two units to 196 for the period, down from 212 a year ago. A decline of three natural...