The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell for the seventh straight week – declining by 1 to a 22-month low of 1,761 for the week ending January 11, 2013 – down 0.1% from last week and 11.3% from a year ago.

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 showed a massive jump of 105.8% to 531 from 258 last week – the biggest jump in over 13 years and well above the 44.0% average jump for the second week in January.

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.