The first of 16 new rigs has been drilled just north west of Moose Jaw.

 

Drilling rigs are popping up all over southern Saskatchewan these days as Alberta companies search the area for shallow natural gas.

Just last week, PanTerra Resources opened a new project near Marquis; just north west of Moose Jaw, one of 16 planned sites.

Vice President Hervay Collet says this could be huge for the local economy. "I think it could be quite good. If you look at areas like Swift Current that had an oil boom back in the 50's and 60's that kind of dwindled off but is coming back now... it could be a potential for here."

Collet and his crews will take about 2 months to do all of their drilling in the Moose Jaw area, with several more months of analyzing after that.