The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell 0.7% from last week’s count of 1,771 to 1,758 for the week ending April 19, 2013 and is 10.9% below the year-ago level of 1,972.

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 eighth consecutive week, dropping 19.2% from 156 to 126, which is the lowest count since May 18, 2012.  The rig count is also down 13.7% from the year-ago level of 146.

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.