Further recovery in the oil patch, especially in the Permian Basin, lifted the U.S. rig count nine units higher to 296 for the week ending Friday (Oct. 30), according to Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) data.

baker hughes shale count Oct. 30

The addition of 10 oil-directed rigs offset the departure of one natural gas-directed unit in the United States for the week. The overall domestic tally ended the period 526 units shy of the 822 rigs running at the same time a year ago. The United States has now added rigs for seven straight weeks, picking up more than 40 units from a recent low of 254 recorded for the week ending Sept. 11.

All of the net gains occurred on land for the week; the Gulf of Mexico count finished unchanged at 13. Horizontal units increased by nine, while the loss of one vertical unit was offset by the...