Despite a downtick in the Permian Basin, the U.S. rig count inched higher during the week ended Friday (Jan. 7), picking up two units to finish at 588 overall, according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Gains of one oil-directed rig and one natural gas-directed rig saw the domestic patch exit the period with 228 more rigs than the 360 rigs active at this time last year. Land drilling held flat week/week, while one rig was added in the Gulf of Mexico, along with one in inland waters, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Three directional units were added in the United States for the period, along with two horizontal rigs. Partially offsetting was the departure of three vertical rigs week/week.