<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex51_forms-8.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 5.1
<TEXT>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                                                                     -----------


                                                       BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP
                                            LAWYERS O PATENT & TRADE-MARK AGENTS
                                                             1000 CANTERRA TOWER
                                                           400 THIRD AVENUE S.W.
                                                        CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 4H2
                                         TEL: (403) 232-9500 FAX: (403) 266-1395
                                                               WWW.BLGCANADA.COM



                                                          File no: 400069/000083

April 22, 2003


Precision Drilling Corporation
4200, 150-6th Avenue, S.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3Y7

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the proposed issuance by Precision Drilling Corporation (the
"Corporation"), a corporate body under the laws of Alberta, of up to an
additional 400,000 common shares without par value of the Company ("Common
Shares") arising from the exercise of options granted pursuant to the 2003 Stock
Option Plan of the Corporation (the "Plan"), we have examined such documents as
we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to express this opinion. This
opinion is limited to the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada including the
laws of Canada applicable therein. Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion
that:

1.       the Corporation has been duly incorporated and is validly subsisting as
         a corporation under the laws of Alberta and is in good standing with
         respect to the filing of annual returns with the office of the
         Registrar of Corporations for Alberta;

2.       the Common Shares have been duly authorized for issuance by all
         necessary corporate action;

3.       the execution and filing of a subsequent listing application to the New
         York Stock Exchange for the listing thereon of the Common Shares has
         been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action; and

4.       upon the issuance of the Common Shares pursuant to the Plan, the Common
         Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the
         holders thereof will have no personal liability as such under the
         existing laws of Alberta, which is the jurisdiction in which the
         Corporation is incorporated and which is the principal place of
         business of the Corporation.


<PAGE>

This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the 2003 Stock Option Plan of
the Corporation. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other
purposes, or relied upon by you or furnished to any other person, firm or
corporation without our prior written consent.

Yours truly,


/s/ Borden Ladner Gervais LLP


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