The number of active oil and natural gas rigs in the United States fell by 11 to 1,848 for the week ending September 21, 2012, down 0.6% from the previous week and 7.1% from a year-ago – reaching the lowest level since May 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 fell 1.1% to 359 from 363 last week, after having posted 3 consecutive weekly increases – the count remained some 29.6% 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.