The U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to 117 for the week ended Friday (Oct. 13), while the addition of four rigs in the oil patch lifted the combined domestic tally three units overall to 622, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Land drilling increased by two in the United States for the period, with the Gulf of Mexico also adding two rigs to end with 20, up from 13 a year ago. Partially offsetting was the departure of one rig from inland waters. Vertical drilling rose by four units, with horizontal drilling up one; total directional rigs, meanwhile, decreased by two.

The combined 622 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 769 rigs running at this time a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from...