The U.S. natural gas rig count finished unchanged at 155 for the week ended Nov. 11, while gains in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and in the Permian Basin helped drive the combined domestic tally nine units higher to 779, according to updated numbers published Friday by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Oil-directed drilling accounted for the entirety of the domestic gains for the period. Land drilling increased by four in the United States, while two rigs were added in inland waters. The GOM added three rigs to raise its total to 16, up from 15 in the year-earlier period. Six horizontal rigs were added domestically, alongside three directional units.

The combined 779 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 556 rigs running a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based...