The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States remained at 1,776 for the week ending August 30, 2013.  The count is still some 6.2% below the year-ago level of 1,894.

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 increased 4.2% to 399 this week, climbing for the fifteenth consecutive week, and maintaining the highest count since March 15, 2013.  The count is also some 26.3% above the year-ago level of 316.

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.