The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose 0.6% to 1,984 for the week ending March 16, 2012. The rig count is up 15.3% from the year-ago level and is just 2.1% off the 2011 high of 2,026 for the week ending November 4, 2011.

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 this week fell 21.1% to 517 from 655 last week, marking the sixth straight decline and ending down 11.7% from the same week 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.