The U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to 104 for the week ended Friday (Dec. 17), while an expansion in the oil patch lifted the overall domestic count three units to 579, according to updated figures published by oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

daily rigs

Four oil-directed rigs were added for the week in the United States, partially offset by the one-rig decline in natural gas-directed drilling. Three rigs were added on land and one in the Gulf of Mexico, with one rig exiting from inland waters. 

The combined U.S. count finished the week 233 rigs ahead of its year-earlier tally of 346, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, tumbled 10 units week/week to end at 167, still outpacing its...