The U.S. natural gas rig count went unchanged at 153 for the week ended Friday (July 15), while an uptick in the oil patch helped lift the overall domestic drilling tally four units higher to 756, according to updated numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Gains in the United States for the week included two oil-directed rigs and two miscellaneous units. The combined 756 active U.S. rigs as of Friday marks a 272-rig increase from 484 rigs running in the year-earlier period. 

Land drilling increased by seven rigs in the United States week/week, partially offset by a three-rig decline in the GOM. Four horizontal rigs were added domestically, along with three vertical rigs. Partially offsetting was a three-rig decline in directional units, according to the BKR numbers, which are...