The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.2% from 1,751 to 1,754 for the week ending January 10, 2014.  The count is 0.4% below the year-ago level of 1,761.

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 jumped 69.2% from 282 last week to 477 this week, reaching the highest count since March 15, 2013.  Despite the rebound, the count is some 10.2% below the year-ago level of 531.

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.