A drop in gas prices has already caused some E&P companies to announce plans to cut some gas rigs to reduce production.
U.S. oil rigs fell by two to 590, while gas rigs dropped by two to 158, Baker Hughes announced on April 6.
Despite this week's rig decline, Baker Hughes said the total count was still up 82 rigs, or 12%, over this time last year.
The Permian led the nation in drilling rig activity in the past year, with data showing much of that growth coming from large, public upstream operators as private companies such as CrownQuest Operating, Iskandia Energy and Mack Energy have downshifted.
Even though gas rig counts are currently up, analysts say drillers have been cutting rigs in some shale basins, especially the Haynesville due to higher production costs.
Gas-directed rig activity in key U.S. plays, including the Marcellus Shale and Permian Basin, increased in a big way last week, but analysts expect cuts to the rig count later this year.
Oil rigs fell one to 589 this week, while gas rigs rose nine to 162.
The number of oil and natural gas rigs operating fell for a fourth week in a row for the first time since July 2020.
The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell for the third week in a row by four to 749 in the week to March 3, the lowest since June.
U.S. oil rigs fell seven to 600 this week and gas rigs stayed unchanged at 151, still up 103 rigs, or 15.8%, over this time last year.