The U.S. natural gas rig count fell two units to 118 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 5), including a small decrease in activity in the Haynesville Shale, according to data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Including a one-rig increase in the U.S. oil patch, the combined domestic rig count finished the week at 621, down one from the week-earlier period and off from 772 rigs running at this time a year ago.

Land drilling declined by one rig overall in the United States for the period. The Gulf of Mexico held steady at 18 rigs, up from 16 a year ago. Horizontal rigs were down one domestically, with directional rigs and vertical rigs unchanged week/week, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count...