The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell 10 rigs to 1,738 for the week ending April 5, 2013, down 0.6% from last week’s count and 12.2% from the year-ago level of 1,979 to the lowest since March 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 fell for the sixth consecutive week, dropping 16.3% from 246 to 206, and is now 68.9% below the 2013 high of 662 on February 22.  Despite the decline, the rig count is up 10.2% from the year-ago level of 187.

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.