On the strength of increased onshore oil and natural gas drilling activity, the U.S. rig count advanced six units to 610 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 28), according to the latest tally from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale count

Including gains of four oil-directed rigs and two natural gas-directed units, the combined domestic count ended the period 226 units ahead of its year-earlier total of 384. All of the week’s gains occurred on land, while the Gulf of Mexico count held steady at 18, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Nine horizontal units were added overall in the United States for the week, offsetting declines of two vertical units and one directional unit.

The Canadian rig count climbed five units for the week to end at 217, up from 174...