The U.S. natural gas rig count rose two units to 146 for the week ended Friday (May 6), while the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) added three rigs to raise its tally to 16, according to updated figures published by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

Including the addition of five oil-directed rigs, the combined domestic rig count increased by seven to 705 for the week, 257 units ahead of its year-earlier total of 448. Four rigs were added on land, alongside the three GOM rigs added for the period. Directional rigs increased by four domestically, along with a net increase of three horizontal rigs, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, fell four units to end the week at 91, up from 55 in the year-earlier period. Declines included...