The Weyburn-Estevan area finished the year as the highest in the province in quarterly sale of the Crown petroleum and natural gas rights held in December.

The sale generated almost $20.4 million for the province. The Weyburn-Estevan area was able to contribute almost $13 million to the provincial tally. December's sale brings the year-to-date total to $134.4 million, the fourth highest total of all time.

This month there were seven exploration licences that sold for over $3 million and 308 lease parcels that brought in $17.4 million in the province.

In the Weyburn area, two exploration licences were sold for $2.2 million while 184 leases were sold for $10.8 million for a total of about $13 million. This is compared to the last sale where the Weyburn area brought in $8.7 million.

The top purchaser in the area was Prairie Land and Investment Services Ltd., which purchased 29 lease parcels for $2.3 million.

The top price paid for a single lease in the area was by Canada Capital Energy Corporation, who paid about $648,000 for a 259-hectare (640 acre) parcel situated adjacent to the Elswick East Midale Beds Pool, seven kilometres southwest of Midale.

The top price paid for a single licence was Whitland Consulting Inc., who paid $1.3 million for a 6,536.77-hectare (16,128 acre) block situated three kilometres northeast of the Parkman Tilston-Souris Valley Beds Pool, three kilometres south of Fairlight.

The highest dollar-per-hectare was paid by O & G Resources Group Ltd., who paid $3,125 per hectare ($1,265 per acre) for a 65 hectare (160 acre) parcel located within the Storthoaks Tilston Beds Pool, three kilometres east of the town of Storthoaks.

The total amount of land sold in the Weyburn area was 30,812 hectares, with an average of $422 per hectare. A total of 184 leases were sold out of 210 that were posted.

The next sale of the oil and gas rights will be on Feb. 14, 2006.