The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States rose by 3 to 1,762 for the week ending February 15, 2013 – up 0.2% from last week and 0.7% from the nearly 2-year low a month ago but down 11.6% from last year.
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 for the 7th straight week, rising by by 3.2% to 651 from 631 last week but was still down 7.7% from last year.
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.
