Including an uptick in Haynesville Shale activity, the U.S. natural gas rig count increased by one to finish the week ended Friday (March 15) at 116, the latest Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) data show.

The 116 active natural gas rigs as of Friday compares with 162 rigs running at this time a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Including a six-rig increase in the oil patch, the combined U.S. rig count climbed to 629, up seven week/week but down from 754 in the year-ago period.

Domestic gains included four land rigs and three rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Horizontal drilling increased by five rigs in the United States, with directional rigs up two.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, fell to 207, down 18 week/week but flat...