The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose 0.1% to 1,748 for the week ending March 28, 2013, but is still down 1.6% from the 2013 high of 1,776 on March 15 and down 11.7% from the year-ago level of 1,979.

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 27% this week from 337 to 246 and has dropped 62.8% from the 2013 high of 662 on February 22.  The rig count is also down 3.9% from the year-ago level of 256.

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.