Driven by gains in the oil patch, the U.S. rig count added two rigs overall to reach 784 during the holiday-shortened work week ended Wednesday (Nov. 23), according to updated numbers published by oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Four oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the period, partially offset by a two-rig decrease in natural gas-directed rigs. Land drilling increased by two rigs, while the Gulf of Mexico held steady at 16 rigs for the week. Two directional rigs were added domestically, with total horizontal and vertical rigs unchanged.

The combined 784 active U.S. rigs as of Wednesday compares with 569 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

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