The U.S. natural gas rig count climbed three units to 119 for the week ended Friday (Dec. 8), including an uptick in Haynesville Shale activity, the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) show.

Oil-directed drilling declined by two rigs domestically, and the combined U.S. rig count finished the period at 626, up one rig week/week. The 626 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 780 rigs running a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

A net increase of two U.S. land rigs was partially offset by the departure of one rig from inland waters. Three vertical rigs were added domestically, while directional rigs declined by two.

The Canadian rig count rose to 194 for the period, up two week/week but down from 202 in the...