The U.S. rig count jumped 10 units higher to 543 during the week ended Friday (Oct. 15), propelled by a strong week of gains in the oil patch, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

October 15 shale rig count

A 12-rig increase in oil-directed drilling in the United States offset net declines of one natural gas-directed and one miscellaneous unit. The combined 543 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 282 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by nine rigs domestically, while the Gulf of Mexico added two rigs to raise its total to 12, versus 14 a year ago. Ten directional rigs were added, along with two vertical rigs. Partially offsetting was the departure of two horizontal rigs...