The U.S. natural gas rig count climbed four units to 79 for the week ending Friday (Dec. 11), while further gains in the oil patch rounded out a week of robust growth for domestic drilling activity, according to figures from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Along with the four natural gas-directed units, the United States added 12 oil-directed rigs, with those gains partially offset by a decline of one miscellaneous unit. The domestic count ended the week at 338, 461 rigs behind its year-ago total of 799, according to the BKR numbers, which are based on data provided in part by Enverus Drillinginfo.

Land drilling increased by 15 week/week, while the Gulf of Mexico held steady at 13 rigs. Horizontal rigs surged higher by 17, offsetting the departure of one...