A small uptick in oil-directed drilling lifted the U.S. rig count two units higher to 752 for the week ended Friday (July 8), according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale rigs

Oil-directed drilling rose by two units to 597 in the United States week/week, while natural gas-directed rigs were unchanged at 153. The combined 752 active U.S. rigs compares with 479 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by one unit domestically. One rig was added in inland waters, while the Gulf of Mexico count was unchanged at 16. Two vertical rigs were added, with total directional and horizontal rigs flat for the period.

The Canadian rig count rose nine units...