The U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to 158 for the week ended Friday (Aug. 26), while a round of gains in the oil patch lifted the combined domestic drilling tally three units higher to 765, according to the latest data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Week/week changes domestically included a four-rig increase in oil-directed drilling, offsetting the slowdown in natural gas activity. The 765 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 508 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by three units domestically, while the Gulf of Mexico count was unchanged week/week at 16. Two vertical units were added overall, along with one directional rig.

The...