The U.S. natural gas rig count rose three units to 141 for the week ended Friday (April 8), while the Permian Basin led a surge in oil-directed activity, according to the latest tally from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Oil-directed rigs increased by 13 in the United States for the week, helping to push the combined U.S. rig count 16 units higher to 689. That’s more than 250 units higher than the year-earlier tally of 432.

Land drilling increased by 18 units for the period, partially offset by a two-rig decline in the Gulf of Mexico. Eighteen horizontal units were added domestically, along with one vertical rig; total directional rigs fell by three, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count fell 13 units to end the week at...