The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States decreased 0.3% from 1,757 to 1,751 for the week ending January 3, 2014.  The count is 0.6% below the year-ago level of 1,762.

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 rose 7.2% to 282 this week, climbing from a six-month low of 263 last week.  The count is also some 9.3% above the year-ago level of 258.

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.