Only eight rigs drilling for oil in southeast Saskatchewan: drilling rig report
By Brian Zinchuk
Drilling activity in Saskatchewan on Nov. 21 was notably lower in three regions, and up a bit in the fourth.
That’s according to RiggerTalk.com, which publishes data from the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC).
There was one highlight, however, in that several small junior oil companies have gotten back in the field, drilling in southeast Saskatchewan.
Northwest Saskatchewan saw a bit of an uptick, with nine drilling rigs working. Cenovus Energy Inc. had rigs working at Paradise Hill, Spruce Lake, Marie Hill, Rush Lake and two near Pikes Peak South. That’s some of the highest rig counts seen by Cenovus in the area since it took over Husky Energy.
Strathcona Resources had a rig at Vawn and a second at Meota.
West central Saskatchewan was almost bereft of rigs, with only three drilling in the whole region. Teine Energy Inc. had one rig working south of Stranraer, while Novus Energy Inc. had one rig near Major. Baytex Energy had one rig southeast of Elrose.
In southwest Saskatchewan, Crescent Point Energy had one rig working northwest of Shaunavon and a second right beside Frontier. For the first time in a long time, North American Helium did not have any drilling rigs listed in the region. In recent months, they’ve been operating two rigs in the southwest.
Southeast Saskatchewan was also hurting, with just nine rigs working, of which one was actually drilling for Wester Potash Corp. near Lajord, southeast of Regina. There was not one rig working west of Estevan, with no activity in the Torquay (Flat Lake) area, Weyburn or Midale units.
Two rigs were working east of Corning, one for Saturn Oil & Gas, and the second for Crescent Point. Crescent Point also had a rig working at Viewfield, and another southeast of Stoughton, for a total of five rigs in the province. Six years ago, the company frequently had over 20, and even as many as 27 rigs working in Saskatchewan.
Pemoco Ltd. had on rig working west of Gapview, northeast of Stoughton.
Anova Resources had one rig working north of Lampman.
Taprock was drilling with one rig north of Alameda.
Spectrum Resources had one rig working northwest of Northgate, in an area where Vermillion has been operating one of the top producing oilwells in the province for much of the past year.
Betts Drilling Rig 2 was working near Lampman in late September. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
Densely packed pumpjacks spread to the horizon in Crescent Point’s Torquay play, also referred to as “Flat Lake.” But there was nary a drilling rig to be seen back in September. Photo by Brian Zinchuk