The domestic natural gas rig count fell by 36, or 3.4%, from a week earlier to stand at 1,018, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. The rig count, now at its lowest level since March 2005, has fallen 37% since mid-September, when there were an estimated 1,606 gas rigs in service across the country and offshore.

The U.S. oil rig count also dropped last week by 1.5% from the previous week, down four rigs to 269, which is a two-year low. In early November there were 442 domestic rigs exploring for oil.

The total onshore oil and gas rig count was down to 1,241 on Friday, which is the lowest level since mid-June 2005. In the offshore, four rigs were laid down to bring the total to 54, which is the lowest level since late October 2007. Canada also lost 20 rigs; its rig count stands at 401, Baker Hughes stated.

Combined the oil and gas rig count reached a 22-year high in 2008, peaking at 2,031 in late August and mid-September.

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