The U.S. natural gas rig count dropped one unit to 156 for the week ended Friday (Oct. 28), while a two-rig decline in oil drilling saw the combined domestic tally fall three units to 768, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Changes in the United States for the week included a two-rig decrease in oil drilling, with natural gas drilling down one. Land drilling declined by one, with one rig exiting the Gulf of Mexico and another rig exiting from inland waters. A five-rig decrease in horizontal rigs domestically was partially offset by a two-rig increase in directional drilling.

The combined 768 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 544 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from...