A slowdown in natural gas-directed drilling in the United States for the week ended Friday (Aug. 11) dropped the overall domestic tally five units to 654, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Domestic oil-directed drilling was unchanged overall for the period, while the five-rig decrease lowered the natural gas count to 123, down from 160 a year ago. Domestic declines included three land rigs, along with one offshore rig and one operating in inland waters. Horizontal rigs fell by six for the period, partially offset by the addition of one vertical unit.

The combined 654 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 763 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Canada, meanwhile,...