Strong oil prices see consistent drilling activity, but no surge overall

By Brian Zinchuk

With oil prices in the US$90 range, drilling activity in Saskatchewan remains consistent, but has not seen a surge overall. Cenovus, however, is seeing some of its strongest numbers in years.

There were 37 drilling rigs active or moving in Saskatchewan on Sept. 24 according to RiggerTalk.com, which publishes data from the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors.

As usual, Precision Drilling dominated activity in the northwest, while Stampede Drilling did the same in the southeast. Activity is still very anemic in the southwest, with just one rig drilling. Notably no one was drilling for helium on that date.

Stampede Drilling Rig 3 working for Homestead Energy north of Hitchcock and east of Macoun on Sept. 23. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

Starting in northwest Saskatchewan, there were 11 rigs making hole. Akita Drilling Rig 8 and Precision Drilling Rig 151 were working for Cenovus Energy in close proximity to each north of Paradise Hill.

Just east of Lloydminster, PD Rig 150 was drilling for Cenovus.

PD Rigs 187 and 197 were drilling for Cenovus southwest of Bolney. Ensign Drilling Rig 534 was drilling for Cenovus northwest of Turtleford. PD Rig 294 was drilling at Pikes Peak and PD 198 just south of Pikes Peak, again for Cenovus.

PD Rigs 254 and 146 were drilling near Edam.

If you’re counting, that’s nine rigs working for Cenovus alone. And that is a significant number for Cenovus, getting close to the number of rigs Husky used to operate in the region many years ago.

Canadian Natural Resources Limited had PD Rig 186 drilling just north of Maidstone. Durham employed Savanna Drilling Rig 419 south of Neilburg.

In west central Saskatchewan, just south of Macklin, Bonanza Drilling Rig 1 was drilling for Strathcona Resources.

North and northeast of Kindersley, a cluster of six rigs were working. Baytex Energy had Savanna Rig 441 east of Coleville. ISH Energy Ltd. had Edge Drilling Rig 6 north of Kindersley. Just a few miles to the east, Teine Energy had Ensign Rig 351 drilling. Moving a little further east, Whitecap Resources Inc. had PD Rig 288 drilling. Saturn Oil and Gas had Savanna Rig 425 drilling near Stranraer. A few miles south, Teine’s second rig, Ensign Rig 350 was working. Teine’s third rig, Savanna Rig 626, was drilling northwest of Plato.

Those total eight rigs in west central Saskatchewan.

In the southwest, only one rig was working. Savanna Rig 606 was drilling for Bull Pine south of Shaunavon.

In central Saskatchewan, Akita Rig 35 was drilling west of Lanigan for Nutrien (but it’s listed as “Potash Corp of Saskatchewan”). Buffalo Potash employed Savanna Rig 629 east of Bethune.

Fifteen rigs were working in the southeast.

Betts Drilling Rig 2 was working south of Weyburn for Aldon Oils Ltd. Stampede Drilling Rig 22 was drilling just west of Oungre. Saturn had Stampede Rig 8 drilling northwest of Torquay. Panther Drilling Rig 2 was drilling near Halbrite for Whitecap.

North of Midale, Cardinal Energy was drilling in the Midale Unit with Stampede Rig 7. Homestead Energy Ltd. was drilling east of Macoun with Stampede Rig 3.

East of Corning, Whitecap was drilling with Panther Rig 3. Northeast of Forget, Horizon Drilling rig 29 was drilling for Saturn.

Stampede Rig 19 was drilling for Saturn east of Carlyle.

The usual cluster of rigs around Lampman has grown to five. Southwest of Lampman, Saturn was drilling with Stampede Rig 1. Just northwest of Lampman, Whitecap was drilling with Stampede Rig 17 (a long drive from the golf course might come close to hitting the mud tank. Well, maybe not that close, but you get the idea.) Just east of Lampman, Whitecap had Ensign Rig 423 turning to the right. Southeast of Lampman, Stampede Rig 2 was drilling for Surge Energy Inc. And south of Lampman, Hummingbird Energy Inc had Alliance Drilling Rig 3 in its usual stomping grounds.

Finally, Stampede Rig 4 was drilling south of Roche Percee for Tundra Oil and Gas.