The U.S. rig count continued to nudge higher during the week ending Friday (Feb. 12), adding five units to end at 397 on growth in oil-directed drilling, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale rig count Feb. 12

A seven-rig increase in oil-directed drilling offset a two-rig decline in natural gas-directed rigs, leaving the combined domestic total 393 units shy of the 790 rigs active in the year-ago period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based in part on data provided by Enverus.

Land drilling increased by four rigs for the week, while the Gulf of Mexico added one rig to climb to 17 overall, down from 23 a year ago. Three vertical units and two horizontal units were added in the United States, while the total number of directional rigs remained unchanged at 18.

The...