The first two onshore drilling rigs in Nova Scotia in Canada are to be built, with oil and gas training part of the new development.

Following the announcement that Laurentian Energy is to build the rigs in a project worth $35 million (£20.2 million), the Premier of Nova Scotia Rodney MacDonald told the Chronicle Herald that the community college was to be involved with the rig development to ensure “training opportunities that go along with it and the potential to build more rigs".

Mr MacDonald also said that the new development is building on the success of the Offshore Strategic Energy Agreement between the area and EnCana.

The project will create around 75 jobs for skilled workers in the oil and gas industry and Mr MacDonald said that it showed "what happens when a government is committed to creating jobs".

Nabors Canada, the company which Laurentian Energy is building the rigs for, operates around 535 land drilling rigs in North America.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development