Amid gains in natural gas-directed drilling and a decline in the oil patch, the U.S. rig count eased one unit lower to finish the week ended Friday (Sept. 9) at 759, according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Net changes domestically included a four-rig increase in natural gas-directed drilling, offset by a five-rig decline in oil-directed drilling. The 759 active U.S. rigs as of Friday is up from 503 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

U.S. land drilling was unchanged overall week/week, while the Gulf of Mexico count eased one unit lower to 13. A four-rig increase in directional drilling was offset by declines of three horizontal rigs and two vertical...