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With the price of oil plunging to 13-year lows, oil well drilling has declined in Saskatchewan, with 43 active drilling rigs in the province at the beginning of this week, down about 27 per cent from the 59 active rigs this time last year, according to the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (COADC).

This week’s active rig count is actually an improvement from earlier in the month, when the number of active rigs was 25 the week of Jan. 4, which increased to 34 the week of Jan. 11, CAODC said. That compares with 43 active rigs the week of Jan. 5, 2015, followed by 68 the week of Jan. 12, 2015. That equates to a 42 per cent and 50 per cent decline in active drilling rigs during the comparable periods last year.

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“When you look at the (2016) numbers, you’re technically growing,” said Kate Jackson, communications specialist with CAODC in Calgary. “There’s more active rigs (this week) than weeks past. But if you compare it to the same week in 2015,” the number of active rigs is down significantly from last year, she said.