The U.S. natural gas rig count rose one unit to 107 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 7) as domestic drilling activity increased modestly to kick off the new year, according to updated figures from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

With one oil-directed rig also added for the week, the overall U.S. tally climbed to 588, up from 360 rigs active at the same time a year earlier. Land drilling held flat week/week, while one rig was added in the Gulf of Mexico, along with one in inland waters, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Three directional units were added in the United States for the period, along with two horizontal rigs. Partially offsetting was the departure of three vertical rigs week/week.

Meanwhile, after...