The U.S. natural gas rig count rose one unit to 151 for the week ended Friday (May 27), while a drop in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) count helped send the combined domestic tally one unit lower overall to 727, according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

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Total GOM rigs fell two units to 15 for the period, while land drilling increased by one rig overall, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Changes domestically for the week also included a two-rig decline in oil-directed drilling. The 727 active U.S. rigs as of Friday represent a 270-rig increase over the 457 rigs active in the year-earlier period.

Three directional rigs exited the patch in the United States for the week, while two horizontal rigs were added. Directional...