The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.6% to 1,770 for the week ending July 19, 2013, up eleven from last week’s count of 1,759, but is some 8.5% below the year-ago level of 1,935.

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 climbed for the tenth consecutive week, jumping 10.2% from 294 to 324 to the highest level since March 22, 2013.  The count is some 1.2% below the year-ago level of 328.

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.