Oilfield suppliers in Canada’s century-old oil province Alberta are feeling the worst of a worldwide drilling slow-down, and this year expect to see 1,350 fewer wells drilled due to lower oil prices and credit fears.

The talley of wells means 11 percent fewer wells will be drilled in the province over 2009, although it’s expected drilling activity will recover beyond the short-term. The whole of Canada — including the offshore Atlantic provinces — is expected to see a four percent fall-off in drill-bit activity from the 17,400 wells drilled in 2008.

“It’s difficult to say what the long-term effects of the current economic situation will be,” said Roger Soucy, president of the Petroleum Services Association.

In contrast to Alberta, most other provinces are seeing an increase, including (from West to East), British Colombia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

A new royalty regime in Alberta this year has made easier for oil companies to pack up their drill rigs and deploy in provinces that border Alberta. In B.C., new types of wells are being drilled, while in Ontario old reports of oil are being doggedly chased down by small core of fortune-seekers.