The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell to 1,864 for the week ending September 7, 2012, down 1.6% from the prior week, 4.8% from the year-ago level and the lowest since June 2011.

The highest weekly rig count in theUnited 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 this week by 9.2% to 345 compared with 316 last week but was down 33.0% from the year-ago level.

The highest rig count forCanadawas 727 on February 3, 2006; the lowest was 29, recorded on April 24, 1992.

Source: Baker Hughes Inc.