Western Canada beats 2007 rig count

For all the dismal statistics that dominated the final quarter, there was a surprise in Canada’s upstream sector in 2008.

The average number of rigs that were kept active in Western Canada through the year was up 31 at 402 and the average utilization of the rig fleet rose to 47 percent from 42 percent.

Alberta reported 265 active rigs, a drop of one from 2007 and the lowest count since 2002.The record year was 2005 when an average 396 rigs were at work.

Saskatchewan posted a record average of 67 working rigs, 20 more than 2007 and 13 more than the previous high in 2006.

British Columbia logged a 23 percent increase from 2007, with an average rig count of 64, 10 below the record set in 2005.

Manitoba’s industry kept six rigs at work compared with four in 2007.

—Gary Park