As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 2003

                                                      Registration No. 333-_____

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                         PRECISION DRILLING CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            ALBERTA, CANADA                            NOT APPLICABLE
    (State or other jurisdiction of                    (IRS Employer
    incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

                           ---------------------------

                            4200 Petro-Canada Centre
                             150 - 6th Avenue, S.W.
                            Calgary, Alberta, Canada
                                     T2P 3Y7
                                 (403) 716-4500
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                         PRECISION DRILLING CORPORATION
                             2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           (Full titles of the plans)

                         Precision Drilling Corporation
                            c/o CT Corporation System
                                111 Eighth Avenue
                            New York, New York 10011
                                 (212) 894-8400
  (Name, address, telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                  COPIES TO:
        Dale E. Tremblay                            Edwin S. Maynard
 Senior Vice President, Finance    Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrision LLP
  and Chief Financial Officer                    1285 Avenue of the Americas
 Precision Drilling Corporation                  New York, NY 10019-6064
   4200, 150-6th Avenue, S.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3Y7


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF          AMOUNT TO BE       PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING          PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
 SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED        REGISTERED(1)      PRICE                        AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1)   REGISTRATION FEE
                                                       PER SHARE(2)
------------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------
                                                                                                          
Common Shares..............        400,000 shares                $37.89                     $15,156,000               $1,226.12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(1)      Represents Common Shares issuable under the Precision Drilling
         Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in
         accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933. The proposed
         maximum aggregate offering price is based upon the average of the high
         and low prices of the Common Shares as reported on the New York Stock
         Exchange Composite Transaction Tape on May 21, 2003 (a date within five
         business days of the filing of this Registration Statement).




                                                                               2


                                     PART I

         The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form
S-8 are not required to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") either as part of this registration statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to the Note to Part I of Form
S-8 and rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The information
required in the Section 10(a) prospectus is included in documents being
maintained and delivered by Precision Drilling Corporation as required by Part I
of Form S-8 and by Rule 428 under the Act.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following documents which have been and will in the future be filed
by us with the SEC are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

         1.       Our Annual Report on Form 40-F for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 2002, which contains our audited financial
                  statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

         2.       All other reports filed by our company under Section 13(a) or
                  15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
                  Act") since December 31, 2002.

         3.       The description of our common shares contained in our
                  Registration Statement on Form 40-F under the Exchange Act, as
                  filed with the SEC on October 24, 1996, including any
                  amendment or report filed for the purpose of amending such
                  description.

         In addition, all reports and documents filed by us under Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement, and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities being offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in and to be part of this Registration Statement from
the filing date of each such document.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

         Not Applicable.




                                                                               3


ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

         Under the BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT (Alberta) (the "ABCA"), the
registrant may indemnify a present or former director or officer or a person who
acts or acted at the registrant's request as a director or officer of a body
corporate of which the registrant is or was a shareholder or creditor, and his
heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses,
including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably
incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or
proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been a
director or officer of the registrant or that body corporate, if the director or
officer acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of
the registrant, and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or
proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, had reasonable grounds for
believing that his conduct was lawful. Such indemnification may be in connection
with a derivative action only with court approval. A director or officer is
entitled to indemnification from the registrant as a matter of right if he was
substantially successful on the merits, fulfilled the conditions set forth
above, and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify.

         The By-laws of the registrant provide that, subject to the limitations
contained in the ABCA, the registrant shall indemnify a director or officer, a
former director or officer, or a person who acts or acted at the registrant's
request as a director or officer of a body corporate of which the registrant is
or was a shareholder or creditor (or a person who undertakes or has undertaken
any liability on behalf of the registrant or any such body corporate), and his
heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses,
including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably
incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal or administrative action or
proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of being or having been a
director or officer of the registrant or such body corporate, if he acted
honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the registrant;
and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is
enforced by a monetary penalty, he had reasonable grounds for believing that his
conduct was lawful.

         The By-laws of the registrant provide that the registrant may, subject
to the limitations contained in the ABCA, purchase and maintain such insurance
for the benefit of its directors and officers as such, as the board of directors
of the registrant may from time to time determine.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be
permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant
to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that, in the
opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

         A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is
set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is
hereby incorporated by reference herein.



                                                                               4


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

(a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                  made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                  statement

                  (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section
                           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                  (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                           arising after the effective date of the registration
                           statement (or the most recent post-effective
                           amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                           aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                           information set forth in the registration statement;
                           and

                  (iii)    to include any material information with respect to
                           the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
                           this registration statement or any material change to
                           such information in this registration statement;

       PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not
       apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
       amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with
       or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
       section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in
       the Registration Statement.

       (2)        That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                  Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
                  deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
                  securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                  fide offering thereof.

       (3)        To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                  amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
                  unsold at the termination of the offering.

       (4)        To file a post-effective amendment to the Registration
                  Statement to include any financial statements required by Rule
                  3-19 of the Exchange Act at the start of any delayed offering
                  or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and
                  information otherwise required by section 10(a)(3) of the
                  Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the
                  registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a
                  post-effective amendment, financial statements required
                  pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information
                  necessary to ensure that all other information in the
                  prospectus is at least as current as the date of those
                  financial statements.

(b)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
         determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
         registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d)
         of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is
         incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
         be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and
         controlling persons of the registrant



                                                                               5


         pursuant to the registrant's Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws,
         by contract, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the
         opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
         is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
         unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
         such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
         incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
         registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
         is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
         connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will,
         unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
         controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
         the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
         policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
         adjudication of such issue.




                                                                               6


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Calgary, Province of Alberta, Country of Canada,
on May 13, 2003.

                                             PRECISION DRILLING CORPORATION


                                             By: /s/ Dale Tremblay
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Dale Tremblay
                                                 Senior Vice President-Finance
                                                 and Chief Financial Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The registrant and each director or officer of the registrant whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Dale Tremblay, his or her true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, who may act alone, with full powers of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and, in connection
with any abbreviated registration statement and any and all amendments thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and hereby
ratifies and confirms all his or her said attorney-in-fact and agent or his or
her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement, or amendment thereto, has been signed below by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



      SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                                         DATE
      ---------                                  -----                                         ----
                                                                                    
/s/ Hank B. Swartout                     Chairman of the Board,                              May 13, 2003
-----------------------------            President and Chief Executive
Hank B. Swartout                         Officer


/s/ Dale E. Tremblay                     Senior Vice President-Finance and                   May 13, 2003
-----------------------------            Chief Financial Officer
Dale E. Tremblay


/s/ W.C. (Mickey) Dunn                   Director                                          April 22, 2003
-----------------------------
W.C. (Mickey) Dunn





                                                                               7




      SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                                         DATE
      ---------                                  -----                                         ----
                                                                                    
/s/ Robert J.S. Gibson                   Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
Robert J.S. Gibson


/s/ Steven C. Grant                      Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
Steven C. Grant


/s/ Murray K. Mullen                     Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
Murray K. Mullen


/s/ Patrick M. Murray                    Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
Patrick M. Murray


/s/ Frederick W. Pheasey                 Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
Frederick W. Pheasey


/s/ H. Garth Wiggins                     Director                                            May 13, 2003
-----------------------------
H. Garth Wiggins





                                                                               8


                            AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of
1933, the undersigned has signed this Registration Statement, solely in the
capacity of the duly authorized representative of Precision Drilling Corporation
in the United States on May 13, 2003.


                                             CEDA INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                             By:  /s/ Dale Tremblay
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Dale Tremblay
                                                  Vice President




                                                                               9


INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
 NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
-------           -----------

    5.1           Opinion of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP regarding the legality of
                  the Common Shares.

   23.1           Consent of KPMG LLP.

   23.2           Consent of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.

   24.1           Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).