Saskatchewan sets new oil production record in 2013

A pump jack is silhouetted against the setting sun in Oklahoma City, on March 22, 2012. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

The Saskatchewan government says 2013 was a record-setting year for the province’s oil patch.

Oil production hit a new record of 177.9 million barrels or 487,400 barrels per day last year.

That’s up from the previous record of 172.9 million barrels or 472,500 barrels per day set in 2012.

Saskatchewan also set a new record for drilling activity, with 2,433 horizontal oil wells drilled last year.

That number surpassed the previous record of 2,036 horizontal oil wells drilled in 2012.

The Lloydminster and Kindersley-Kerrobert areas accounted for almost two-thirds of all drilling last year.