The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States increased 0.7% from last week’s 1,778 to 1,791 for the week ending August 16, 2013, reaching the highest count since December 14, 2012. Despite the climb, the count is some 6.4% below the year-ago level of 1,914.
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 remained at 358 this week, which is still the highest count since March 22, 2013. The count is also some 9.8% above the year-ago level of 326.
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.





