Another round of healthy gains in the oil patch pushed the U.S. rig count six units higher to 417 for the week ended Friday (March 26), according to data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count March 26

After adding nine rigs in the previous week, the domestic oil patch picked up an additional six rigs for the most recent week to finish at 324. Natural gas-directed drilling remained unchanged overall at 92 rigs. The combined 417 rigs for the period compares with 728 rigs active at this time last year, according to the BKR figures, which are based in part on data provided by Enverus.

Seven rigs were added on land in the United States, while one rig departed in the Gulf of Mexico. Eight horizontal units were added, along with one directional unit, offsetting a net decline...