A decline in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) drilling activity helped ease the U.S. rig count one unit lower to 727 for the week ended Friday (May 27), updated figures from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) show.

shale count

Total GOM rigs fell two units to 15 for the period, while land drilling increased by one rig overall, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Changes domestically for the week included a two-rig decline in oil-directed drilling, partially offset by a net gain of one natural gas-directed rig. The 727 active U.S. rigs as of Friday represent a 270-rig increase over the 457 rigs active in the year-earlier period.

Three directional rigs exited the patch in the United States for the week, while two horizontal rigs were added....