The U.S. natural gas rig count inched one unit higher to reach 99 for the week ended Friday (Oct. 22), while the recent steady upward trend in the oil patch stalled for the period, according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count Oct 22

A net decline of two oil-directed rigs dropped the combined U.S. count by one unit to 542 as of Friday. Even with the week/week decline, the number of active U.S. rigs as of Friday far surpasses the year-ago count of 287, according to the BKR figures, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

The Gulf of Mexico count increased by one week/week to 13, while U.S. land drilling fell by two units. Two vertical units packed up shop for the week, with one horizontal rig joining the patch.

The Canadian rig count fell four units to 164 for the...