The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.5% to 1,757 for the week ending July 3, 2013, up slightly from last week’s count of 1,748 but is some 10.6% below the year-ago level of 1,965.

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 increased 3.9% from 206 to 214 this week and reached the highest count since March 28, 2013.  Despite the increase, the count is still some 18.9% below the year-ago level of 264.

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.