The U.S. natural gas rig count went unchanged at 137 during the week ended Friday (March 25), while a week of strong growth in Texas accompanied continued activity gains in the oil patch, according to updated figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

U.S. oil-directed rigs increased by seven overall for the period, helping to lift the combined U.S. rig count to 670, up 253 rigs from its year-earlier total of 417, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus.

Land drilling increased by five units domestically, while the Gulf of Mexico added two rigs to end the period with 14 overall. Horizontal and vertical rigs each increased by four, partially offset by a one-rig decline in directional units.

The Canadian rig count, meanwhile, dropped 36 units...