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HOUSTON—The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States fell by three this week to 1,839.

Of the rigs running nationwide, 1,473 were exploring for natural gas and 357 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Nine were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,747.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Wyoming added four rigs and Louisiana added one. Oklahoma lost four, Colorado, Alaska and New Mexico each lost two, and California and Texas each lost one.

Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944. The tally peaked at 4,530 in 1981, during the height of the oil boom. The industry posted several record lows in 1999, bottoming out at 488.