Natural gas drilling fell significantly during the second quarter compared to the same period a year ago, according to a report from Washington, DC-based American Petroleum Institute (API).

Natural gas well completions slumped 37% to 3,979 from the comparable period in 2001, while oil well completions dropped 33% to 1,668 in the quarter, and dry holes were off 10%, the API said.

Overall, completions of oil and natural gas wells and dry holes plummeted by one-third to an estimated 6,565 for the second quarter from 9,850 last year, it reported. Total exploratory completions also were down for the quarter by 31%, while development completions fell 33% from a year ago.

Moreover, the API reported that total footage drilled during the period was down by 26% to 40,284,000 feet.

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