The Petroleum Services Association of Canada is predicting 17,500 new wells will be drilled in western Canada for the balance of 2001: 5,084 oil wells, 10,303 gas, 1,886 dry and 227 service. "The oilfield services sector looks forward to the challenges of high activity levels for the ensuing year, brought on by higher commodity prices," says 2001 PSAC chairman Fred Moore. The forecasted numbers are due to an upsurge in the sector, driven by commodity prices, which are allowing operators to spend more on drilling, according to PSAC. In Alberta, PSAC expects the drilling of 12,383 wells, up 13% from a previous prediction for 2001, with 4,328 expected in southeastern Alberta and 1,954 in east-central Alberta. In northeastern British Columbia, 942 wells will be drilled in 2001, according to the forecast. In Saskatchewan, drilling will increase 15% from the previous prediction, to total 4,077. PSAC has not yet released 2000 results on how many new wells were drilled. The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors has reported that there were 17,351 wells drilled in Canada in 2000 and Nickle's Daily Oil Bulletin reported 17,693.