The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell to 1,894 for the week ending August 31, 2012, down 0.2% from the prior week, 3.8% from the year-ago level and the lowest since last July.

The highest weekly rig count in theUnited Statessince 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 decreased this week by 5.4% to 316 compared with 334 last week and was down 37.8% 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.