Even as the U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to 98 for the week ended Friday (Oct. 15), a surge in the oil patch lifted the combined domestic tally 10 units higher to 543, according to updated numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

daily rig count Oct 15

A 12-rig increase in oil-directed drilling in the United States for the week more than made up for the shrinking natural gas tally, and for the departure of one miscellaneous rig. The combined 543 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 282 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by nine rigs domestically, while the Gulf of Mexico added two rigs to raise its total to 12, versus 14 a year ago. Ten directional rigs were added, along with two...