The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell by 5 to 1,759 for the week ending February 8, 2013 – down 0.3% from last week and 11.6% from last year but still up 0.6% from the nearly 2-year low a month ago.
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 rose for the 6th straight week, rising by by 1.0% to 631 from 625 last week but was still down 11.0% 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.
