The U.S. natural gas rig count held steady at 104 during the week ended Friday (July 23), while a ramp-up in oil drilling drove the combined domestic tally seven units higher to 491, according to the latest data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

All seven rigs added domestically for the week went to work in the oil patch. The 491 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 251 rigs in the year-ago period, according to the BKR figures, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by seven rigs week/week, with the Gulf of Mexico count unchanged at 17. Horizontal rigs increased by five overall, with one directional rig and one vertical unit also added during the period.

The Canadian rig count eased one unit lower overall, falling...