The U.S. natural gas rig count increased one unit to 94 during the week ended Friday (April 16) as gains in the oil patch paced a week of healthy growth in domestic drilling activity, according to the latest data from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). 

U.S. rig count April 16

Along with the addition of one gas rig, an increase of seven oil-directed rigs offset the departure of one miscellaneous unit in the United States for the week. That left the combined U.S. rig count at 439 as of Friday, versus 529 rigs in the year-ago period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by five units in the United States during the week, along with one rig in the Gulf of Mexico and one in inland waters. Horizontal rigs increased by four, with two directional rigs and...