The domestic natural gas rig count held steady at 112 for the week ended Thursday (March 28), while a decline in oil activity lowered the combined domestic drilling tally by three to 621, the latest Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) data show.

The combined oil and gas U.S. rig count for the week, which was 621, was down from 755 in the year-ago period.

Land drilling went unchanged week/week in the United States at 601 rigs. The Gulf of Mexico saw three rigs exit to finish with 20, up 11% year/year. Six directional rigs exited during the period, while one vertical rig was added.

The 112 active natural gas rigs compared with 160 rigs running at this time a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus. BKR reported the data one day earlier than usual...