by STEPHAN BURNETT, Weyburn Review Editor
Ninety-three mineral right leases located between Cedoux and Montmartre were sold for $1.89 million during the October 6 provincial sale of petroleum and natural gas rights.
The lease sales garnered 41 per cent of southeast Saskatchewan's mineral rights revenue during the October sale, and are being sold within a triangular area which runs north from Cedoux to an area level with Montmartre, then east to Montmartre and finally, back in a southwest direction to Cedoux.
With Husky Oil drilling at Cedoux, a largely unexplored region, rumours are running rampant that the Nabors crew contracted to drill for Husky at Cedoux hit pay dirt and now, Husky is buying leases as quickly as it can.
Gordon Hutch, director of petroleum and lands branch for Saskatchewan Energy and Mines, was uncharacteristically enthusiastic.
"Normally, we like to stay pretty calm. But I have to say, we're pretty excited," said Hutch when asked whether the activity could constitute the beginnings of a new oilfield.
Del Mondor, co-president of Viking Petro Corporation, based in Weyburn, provided a mixed reaction to the Cedoux-Montmartre mineral rights sales.
"It's exciting but no I'm not surprised. There's a discovery out there. Husky has drilled straight east of Cedoux and I'm almost 100 per cent certain they would be buying up a large portion of those parcels." said Mondor.
Mondor specified the Precambrian Shield is shallower in the Cedoux area, estimating an approximate range of 2300 metres. At the same time, Mondor disagreed with earlier suggestions made by Vince Cuschieri, head of geological services for Husky Oil, that drilling has not gone to basement and hit the Precambrian Shield.
PanCanadian area superintendent Darcy Cretin also said he was not surprised by the development.
"There's been quite a bit of seismic activity in the area and there was drilling late last year near Montmartre and more recently at Cedoux," said Cretin.
Laurel Nichol, manager of corporate communications with Husky Oil, based out of Calgary, refused to provide any additional information.
"I don't have any information I can provide to you," said Nichol. "We are a private company and we consider any information about our activities confidential."
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