The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose by 24 to 1,776 for the week ending March 15, 2013 – up 1.4% from last week – the largest weekly percentage increase since December 2011 – but still down 10.5% from last year.

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 13.3% this week, coming in at 503 from 580 last week and down 2.7% 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.