A pullback in Haynesville Shale drilling saw the U.S. natural gas rig count fall six units to finish at 124 for the week ended Friday (June 30), while a modest decline in the oil patch left the combined domestic tally down eight to 674, according to the latest figures from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

The latest declines continue a theme of retrenchment in the domestic natural gas patch as producers have responded to weaker prices in 2023. Since late April, 37 natural gas rigs have exited the patch in the United States, a decline of 29 rigs year/year,  BKR data show.

Alongside the drop in natural gas rigs, one oil-directed rig and one miscellaneous rig also packed up shop for the week ended June 30. All of the declines occurred on land, with the Gulf of Mexico count unchanged...