Gains in land drilling offset a decline in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to send the U.S. natural gas rig count two units higher to 455 for the week ended Friday (May 21), according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count May 21

Four oil-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, while one natural gas-directed rig and one miscellaneous rig departed, according to the BKR numbers, which are based in part on data from Enverus. The combined 455 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 318 rigs running in the year-ago period.

Land drilling increased by three rigs domestically, while the GOM saw its total fall one unit to 14, versus 12 a year ago. Two horizontal units were added overall, while the total number of directional and vertical rigs remained...