By Dave Sebastian

The number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. rose by one in the latest week to 444, according to oil-field services company Baker Hughes Co.

The oil-rig count was 221 higher than a year earlier, Baker Hughes said Friday.

The nation's gas-rig count rose by one to 100 in the latest week, and was up by 28 compared with the same week last year.

The U.S. offshore-rig count was unchanged at 13 this week and year-over-year.

The U.S. oil-rig count is viewed as a proxy for activity in the sector. The metric peaked at 1,609 in October 2014.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude fell to about $83.61 a barrel Friday. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, rose to about $82.95 a barrel.

Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-29-21 1326ET