The U.S. natural gas rig count eased one unit lower to 105 for the week ended Friday (April 26), while a decline of five oil-directed rigs dropped the combined domestic tally six units week/week to 613, according to updated numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

The 105 active natural gas rigs in the United States as of Friday compares with 161 rigs running in the year-ago period, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Land drilling declined by three rigs domestically for the week, with the Gulf of Mexico dropping three rigs to finish with 15, down from 19 a year ago. Declines included three directional rigs and three horizontal rigs, with total vertical units unchanged for the period.

The Canadian count fell nine rigs week/week to 118,...