A small contraction in oil-directed drilling saw the U.S. rig count decline one unit to 438 for the week ended Friday (April 23), according to data from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale rig count April 23

Oil rigs fell to 343 in the United States for the week, while the number of natural gas-directed rigs operating domestically remained unchanged at 94. The combined 438 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 465 active units in the year-ago period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data provided by Enverus.

The Gulf of Mexico posted a net decline of one rig week/week, dropping its total to 11, versus 17 a year ago. Total U.S. land rigs remained unchanged at 426. One vertical unit was added in the United States, while one horizontal rig and one directional rig exited the...