The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose 0.3% to 1,965 for the week ending July 6, 2012, rising from the two-month low of 1,959 last week.  The rig count is 4.1% above the year-ago level.

The highest weekly rig count in the United States since 1940 was recorded on December 28, 1981, at 4,530; the lowest was recorded on April 23, 1999, at 488.

The number of rigs in Canada rose again this week by 1.2% to 264 compared with 261 last week and the highest count since March 30, 2012.  Despite the increase, the count is down 20.2% from the year-ago level.

The highest rig count for Canada was 727 on February 3, 2006; the lowest was 29, recorded on April 24, 1992.

Source: Baker Hughes Inc.