The number of rigs drilling for natural gas in the United States fell by 12 to 919, according to Baker Hughes Dec. 30 rig count. This marks the fourth week of decline for the gas rig count.

However the 919 rigs drilling for gas is an increase of 160 from the year-ago period.

The overall North American rig count for the latest period was 1,940, down 85 rigs from the previous week but up 542 rigs from the year-ago period. The number of U.S. land-based rigs drilling was 1,656, down 19 from a week ago but up 517 from the year-ago period. Offshore rigs declined by 1 to 24 from the previous week. Thirty-eight rigs were drilling in the offshore a year ago, according to Baker Hughes.

The Texas rig count declined by 15 to 731 for the week, while Oklahoma saw an increase of two rigs to 160, and Louisiana gained three rigs for 176 working. The Canadian rig count fell by 65 from a week ago to 246.

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