Pursuant to subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act (Accord Acts), the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (the Board) is providing notice of the three fundamental decisions respecting the Call for Bids NS17-1 made on May 23, 2017. These three fundamental decisions are:

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BOARD ISSUES CALL FOR BIDS

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has issued its Call for Bids NS17-1 for Exploration Licences consisting of three parcels. Bids must be received by December 14, 2017 before 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Time. Any successful bidder(s) will be awarded Exploration Licences subject to federal and provincial Ministerial approval.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board have updated the joint Incident Reporting and Investigation Guideline which assists operators, employers and other workplace parties in complying with the requirements of the Accord Acts and the associated Regulations for the reporting and investigation of Incidents and other events that occur in the offshore area.

(Halifax, NS) The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) today announced the results of Call for Bids NS17-1. No bids were received. The parcels are no longer up for bid and remain as Crown land.

HALIFAX, NS, April 7, 2018 – The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has issued an authorization to BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) allowing the drilling unit, the Seadrill West Aquarius, to enter Canada-Nova Scotia waters, and to carry on with preparatory work in advance of its planned drilling of an exploration well.

HALIFAX, NS, April 21, 2018 – The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has granted an Approval to Drill a Well (ADW) to BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada), and has authorized the commencement of drilling operations for BP Canada’s Aspy D-11 exploration well.

Pursuant to subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act (Accord Acts), the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (the Board) is providing notice of six fundamental decisions respecting Calls for Bids NS18-1 and NS18-2 made on March 21, 2018.  These six fundamental decisions are:

The federal Minister of Natural Resources and the provincial Minister of Energy have notified the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) that they have jointly set aside the implementation of the six fundamental decisions pertaining to the making of Calls for Bids NS18-1 and NS18-2.  The letter CNSOPB received can be found here.

CNSOPB is now determining next steps with respect to future fundamental decisions relating to Calls for Bids NS18-1 and NS18-2. 

Over the past several months, the CNSOPB has undertaken a review of the Canada-Nova Scotia Benefits Plan Guidelines. The purpose of the review was to modernize the guidelines to accurately reflect the CNSOPB’s practices and processes related to Industrial Benefits, which have evolved since the existing guidelines were originally introduced in May 2011. The review has resulted in the drafting of new Exploration Canada-Nova Scotia Benefits Plan Guidelines. 

BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) reported on June 22, 2018, an unauthorized discharge of synthetic based drilling mud (SBM) from the West Aquarius Drilling Unit. A preliminary estimate of the volume discharged is approximately 136 cubic metres.

The discharge has been stopped. A remote operated vehicle was launched to determine the source of the discharge. Preliminary indications is that it is from piping that forms part of the mud system approximately 30 metres below sea level.