The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell again this week – declining by 1 to a 19-month low of 1,799 for the week ending December 14, 2012 – down 0.1% from last week and 10.9% from a year ago.

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 for the fifth consecutive week – up 3.0% to 418 from 406 last week, but some 21.3% below 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.