Sales of Crown oil and natural gas rights are on a record pace in 2007, with the Weyburn-Estevan area again leading the way in bonus activity.

The area received sales totaling $27.7 million, an average of $263.11 per hectare ($106.48 per acre). This compares to $6.3 million, an average of $595.26 per hectare ($240.90 per acre) at the last sale.

The Lloydminster area followed the Weyburn-Estevan area at $5.3 million which included, for the first time, interest in oil sands. The Swift Current area brought in $3.8 million and the Kindersley-Kerrobert area was at $1.5 million.

The top purchaser in the Weyburn-Estevan area and in the province was Prairie Land and Investment Services Ltd., who spent $6.5 million to acquire 15 lease parcels and seven licenses in the area. In total, they purchased 24 lease parcels and eight licenses in the province.

Windfall Resources Ltd. paid the top price for a single lease in the area and in the province. The company paid $1.3 million for a 324.15 hectare (801 acre) parcel situated adjacent to the Morrisview Frobisher-Alida Beds Pool 17 kilometres southeast of Stoughton.

The highest price received for a single license in the area and in the provincial was $5.1 million paid by McCrank Stewart Johnson for a 9,320.72 hectare (23,032 acre) block situated adjacent to the Oungre Ratcliffe Beds Pool, 58 kilometres south of Weyburn. This was also the high dollar per hectare in the area at $4,100 per hectare ($1,659.19 per acre).

Eleven licenses were posted in the area for 85,604.70 hectares. All 11 licenses were sold for a bonus of $13.6 million, an average of $158.90.

There were 185 leases posted for 21,422.35 hectares. In total, 173 leases were sold for 19,494.02 hectares, bringing in $14 million in bonuses, an average of $720.76 per hectare.

The Aug. 13 Crown petroleum and natural gas sale brought generated $38.2 million for the province, an average of $209.90 per hectare ($84.94 per acre). This compares to $14.1 million, an average of $544.86 per hectare ($220.50 per acre) in the last sale.

With two sales to go in 2007, Saskatchewan in already having its fourth best year on record.