Estevan 鈥�While Saskatchewan鈥檚 active drilling rig count remains low, in large part due to wet conditions in the Kindersley area bringing activity to a near standstill, several new companies have appeared on the Rig Locator drilling map. As of Oct. 24, there were 28 rigs shown working on that day.
In addition to the usual players of Crescent Point Energy Corp., Surge Energy Inc. and Whitecap Resources Inc., across Saskatchewan lesser-known companies have popped up with a rig in their employ.
In the Lloydminster area, near Onion Lake First Nation, Avalon Oil & Gas Ltd. had one rig. The two other rigs in the area were both drilling near Paradise Hill, one for Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., and the other for Husky Energy.
The Kindersley area was nearly devoid of activity, with Crescent Point Energy Corp. and Raging River Exploration Inc. with a rig apiece. Crescent Point鈥檚 was just east of Kindersley, and Raging River鈥檚 was south of Elrose, in the Forgan district.
The southwest has picked up steam with five rigs, after having been totally devoid of activity. In this case, the standout rig is drilling for Capio Energy Ltd., just west of Gull Lake.
Whitecap had one rig drilling just to the northwest of Gull Lake. Crescent Point has one rig near Shaunavon and another southeast of Eastend, at Eastbrook. Surge Energy also had a rig near Eastbrook.
In the southeast, Dawn Energy Inc. , east of Moosomin, and Ventura Resources Inc., drilling near Lampman, are the standout new players.
Torc Oil & Gas and Crescent Point were also drilling near Lampman.
Keystone Royalty Corp. is another notable name, drilling two kilometres west of Alida. Northwest of Carnduff, Triland Energy Inc. had one rig, while Spartan Energy Corp had a rig near Alameda.
Crescent Point had a rig northeast of Oxbow and northwest of Alameda.
In the Oungre area, Crescent Point had three rigs working, two near the border and one near Bromhead.
Activity picked up in the Stoughton area, with four Crescent Point rigs working east and southeast of the community.
Two more rigs were working on potash, at Colonsay and Esterhazy.
