The Surface Rights Acquisition And Compensation Act – Current Saskatchewan Framework

Conventional oil and gas production involves a producer getting access to oil and gas that is trapped underground by drilling and establishing a well-site that is located aboveground. While the resource is located under the surface, the activity to gain access to the resource occurs on the surface.

In Saskatchewan, the ownership of underground mineral commodities can be separated from the ownership of surface land. As such, a producer with ownership of oil and gas rights is required to acquire the rights to use surface land in order to establish a well-site for oil and gas production. Without acquiring the rights to use the surface land, the oil and gas would be inaccessible and remain trapped beneath the surface.