Including expanded activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), the U.S. rig count rose seven units to 705 for the week ended Friday (May 6), according to the latest tally from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rig count

Five oil-directed rigs and two natural gas-directed rigs were added in the United States for the week, putting the combined domestic count 257 units ahead of its year-earlier total of 448. Four rigs were added on land, while the GOM picked up three rigs to end with 16. 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 three oil-directed...