Amid a number of smaller regional adjustments in drilling activity, the U.S. rig count held steady overall at 779 for the week ended Friday (Dec. 30), according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

rigs

A net decline of one oil-directed rig in the United States week/week was offset by the addition of one natural gas-directed unit. Drilling totals on land and in the Gulf of Mexico both held flat for the period. A four-rig increase in directional rigs was offset by a four-rig decline in horizontal drilling.

The combined 779 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 586 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

The Canadian rig count fell 12 units to end the week at 84, down from 90 in the...