The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell by 5 to 1,752 for the week ending March 8, 2013 – down 0.2% from last week and 11.2% from last year, hovering above the nearly two year low of 1749 on January 18.

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 fell 11.5% this week, coming in at 580 from 655 last week and down 11.5% from last year.

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.