With gains in natural gas-directed drilling countered by declines in the oil patch, the U.S. rig count finished unchanged overall at 771 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 27), according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Domestic changes for the period included an increase of four natural gas-directed rigs and a decline of four oil-directed rigs. Land drilling increased by three rigs, while three rigs exited in the Gulf of Mexico. Five horizontal rigs were added domestically for the week, offset by declines of four directional rigs and one vertical rig.

The combined 771 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 610 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

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