After a week of retrenchment in the U.S. natural gas patch, offset by further gains in oil-directed drilling, the combined domestic rig count rose three units to reach 503 as of Friday (Aug. 20), according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count August 20

Eight oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the period, offsetting a five-rig decline in natural gas-directed units. The 503 active rigs as of Friday compares with 254 rigs running in the year-ago period, according to the BKR figures, which are based in part on data from Enverus.

Domestic land drilling increased by one rig overall, with one additional rig each also deployed in the Gulf of Mexico and in inland waters. Three directional rigs and two vertical rigs were added overall, partially offset by a net...