The U.S. natural gas rig count slid one unit to finish at 99 for the week ended Friday (May 21), while another round of additions in the oil patch lifted the overall domestic tally higher for the period, according to data published by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count May 21

Four oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, offsetting the departure of one natural gas-directed rig and one miscellaneous rig, according to the BKR numbers, which are based in part on data from Enverus. That left the United States with a combined 455 active rigs as of Friday, compared with 318 rigs running in the year-ago period.

Land drilling increased by three rigs domestically, while the GOM saw its total fall one unit to 14, versus 12 a year ago. Two horizontal units were added overall, while...