The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose 1.9% to 1,771 for the week ending April 12, 2013, up from last week’s 1,738, which was the lowest since March 2011.  The count is still 9.2% below the year-ago level of 1,950.

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 24.3%, dropping from 206 to 156 – the lowest count since June 1, 2012 – and were down 4.9% from the year-ago level of 164.

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.