Buoyed by growth in the natural gas patch, the U.S. rig count inched higher during the week ended Friday (April 30), adding two units to reach 440, according to the latest tally from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

shale rig count April 30

Two natural gas-directed rigs were added in the United States during the week, along with one miscellaneous unit. Those gains offset the departure of one oil-directed rig overall, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

The combined 440 rigs active as of Friday represents a 32-rig increase year/year, improving over a year-ago period impacted by the start of the Covid-19 pandemic response.

Total land rigs remained unchanged week/week in the United States, while the Gulf of Mexico added two rigs to grow its total...