The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell by 5 to 1,859 for the week ending September 21, 2012, down 0.3% from the previous week and 6.6% below the year-ago level – remaining at the lowest level since June 2011.

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 for the third consecutive week, rising 2.5% to 363 from 354 last week, but remained some 28.1% below the year-ago level.

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.