The U.S. rig count nudged one unit higher to finish at 632 for the week ended Friday (Sept. 8), though natural gas drilling activity eased lower for the period, according to the latest tally from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Total domestic natural gas-directed rigs finished at 113, down one week/week, while oil-directed rigs increased by one to 513. One miscellaneous rig was also added in the United States, according to BKR.

Land drilling declined by one rig domestically for the period, offset by a two-rig increase in offshore drilling. Directional rigs increased by five week/week, partially offset a decline of four horizontal units.

The combined 632 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 759 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are...