The U.S. natural gas rig count was unchanged at 162 rigs for the week ended Friday (March 24), while a modest rebound in oil activity lifted the combined domestic tally four units to 758, according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Total U.S. oil rigs were up four to finish the period at 593. The U.S. oil count recently peaked in late 2022 at 627 and has been trending lower throughout 2023. 

Land drilling was up three rigs, and one rig was added in the Gulf of Mexico. Gains included three directional rigs and one vertical rig, with total horizontal rigs unchanged week/week.

The combined 758 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 670 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The...