The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell from last week’s four-month high, decreasing 0.8% from 1,782 to 1,768 for the week ending December 20, 2013.  The count is a mere 0.3% below the year-ago level of 1,774.

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 also fell, dropping 6.6% from last week’s nine-month high of 426 to 398 this week.  Despite the decrease, the count is some 3.6% above the year-ago level of 384.

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.