The U.S. natural gas rig count climbed two units to 109 for the week ended Friday (Jan. 14), while big gains in Texas sent the overall domestic drilling tally higher by double digits, according to updated figures published by Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Including a net gain of 11 oil-directed rigs, the combined domestic rig count finished at 601 active rigs as of Friday, versus 373 rigs running in the year-earlier period, according to the BKR numbers, which are partly based on data from Enverus. 

Eleven rigs were added on land, along with two in the Gulf of Mexico. Nine horizontal rigs were added week/week, alongside two directional rigs and two vertical units.

The Canadian rig count jumped 50 units for the period to 191 in the latest BKR count, including 43 oil-directed rigs and...