The U.S. natural gas rig count fell one unit to finish at 109 for the week ended Friday (April 12), while a small decrease in oil drilling dropped the combined domestic tally three units to 617, according to the latest numbers from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR).

Total domestic natural gas rigs finished the period down 49 from year-earlier levels. The combined 617 active U.S. rigs as of Friday compares with 751 rigs running at this time a year ago, according to the BKR numbers, which are based partly on data from Enverus.

Land drilling decreased by two rigs overall for the period, with the Gulf of Mexico dropping one rig to end at 17, versus 16 a year ago. Three horizontal rigs exited the patch for the week in the United States, while total directional and vertical rigs were...