44 Rigs drilling in Saskatchewan on Oct. 6, targeting oil, hydrogen, lithium and potash

By Brian Zinchuk

There were 44 active or moving drilling rigs in Saskatchewan on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to Canadian Association of Energy Contractors data published by RiggerTalk.com.

While most of the rigs were drilling for oil, two were drilling for potash, one for lithium and one for hydrogen.

Panther Drilling Rig 2 working south of Halbrite in the Whitecap Resources-operated Weyburn Unit on Oct. 5, 2026. Behind it, Canadian Plains works on installing a pipeline system with multiple pipes in a common ditch. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

Starting in the northwest, there were 15 rigs working in the region. It looks like drilling has resumed in the Onion Lake area after a notable hiatus. Edge Drilling Rig 5 was working north of Onion Lake for IPC Canada Ltd.

As usual, Cenovus Energy dominated the region. Three of their rigs were working along Highway 21 north of Paradise Hil. Those included Precision Drilling Rigs 191, 151 and 197. PD Rig 146 was at Spruce Lake. Ensign Drilling Inc. Rig 534 was east of Turtleford. PD Rig 254 was moving in west of Edam. Across the river at Rush Lake, Akita Drilling Ltd. Rig 8 was making hole. Near Silver Lake Regional Park, PD Rig 187 was drilling. East of Lloydminster, PD Rigs 294 and 150 were also drilling.

If you’re counting, that’s ten rigs for Cenovus alone.

Just north of Maidstone, Canadian Natural Resources employed PD Rig 185. West of Pikes Peak and a little south of Highway 303, Baytex Energy Ltd. was drilling with PD Rig 155. Savanna Drilling Corp. Rig 419 was drilling south of Neilburg for Durham.

And of note is Grounded Lithium Corp drilling on Highway 40 between Marsden and Neilburg. As far as Pipeline Online is aware, this is a totally new area for lithium exploration, as Grounded Lithium’s previous efforts have been focused on the Coleville area.

Shifting to west central Saskatchewan, Strathcona Resources was drilling with Bonanza Rig 1 at Cosine.

The Kindersley cluster was back at it, with five rigs working north and northeast of the community. Edge Drilling Rig 6 was working for ISH Energy Ltd. north of Kindersley. Savanna Rig 441 was working southeast of Coleville for Baytex. PD Rig 288 was drilling a little east of there for Whitecap. Ensign Rig 351 was drilling for Teine Energy at Dodsland, while Ensign Rig 350 was drilling south of Stranraer.

Saturn Oil and Gas was drilling with Savanna Rig 425 east of Plato. Teine Energy had Savanna Rig 626 working southwest of Elrose.

All that totals eight rigs working in west central Saskatchewan.

Only one rig was drilling in the southwest. That’s Savanna Rig 606 drilling for Bull Pine south of Shaunavon.

In central Saskatchewan, Max Power was drilling for hydrogen north of Lawson with Savanna Rig 629.

Akita Drilling Rig 35 showed up at Lanigan for Nutrien.

In southeast Saskatchewan, we pick up again on potash, with Stampede Drilling Rig 3 working north of Roganville for Nutrien.

In total, 18 rigs were drilling in southeast Saskatchewan.

Panther Drilling Corp. Rig 3 was drilling for Whitecap east of Corning, with Stampede Drilling Rig 8 drilling for Saturn just a little to the east of the Panther rig.

Saturn also had Horizon Drilling Rig 29 working north of Forget, Stampede Rig 19 near Manor, and Stampede 1 west of Lampman.

Aldon Oils Ltd. had Betts Drilling Rig 2 working just west of the Weyburn Unit, while Panther Rig 2 was drilling for Whitecap south of Halbrite within the Unit.

Cardinal Energy Ltd. had Stampede Rig 7 drilling in the Midale Unit. Allied Energy II Corp. had Stampede Rig 22 drilling just outside of Oungre.

Surge Energy Inc. had Stampede Rig 2 drilling at Bryant. Whitecape was drilling with Stampede Rig 17 at Viewfield.

South of Lampman, Hummingbird Energy continued to punch holes in their core area with Alliance Drilling Rig 3.

Tundra Oil & Gas Ltd. had Stampede Rigs 16 and 4 drilling northeast of Steelman. Whitecap had Ensign Rig 423 north of Frobisher.

Betts Drilling Rig 1 was working for ROK Resources Inc. south of Oxbow. Betts Rig 3 was working for Athena Resources northwest of Carnduff.