Drilling operations of BP Canada (BP) continue to be suspended. The CNSOPB has sent two officers and a drilling engineer offshore to investigate the cause of the discharge. This will inform any actions by the CNSOPB.

To resume drilling, the CNSOPB must be satisfied with the responsive steps that BP has taken, and be satisfied that drilling operations can proceed safely.

The CNSOPB will refrain from commenting further on the investigation at this time, as it is ongoing.   

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board’s (CNSOPB) ongoing investigation into the unauthorized discharge of drilling mud that was reported on June 22, 2018 has determined the cause to be a loose connection in the mud booster line. The purpose of the mud booster line is to pump drilling mud into the riser to lift drill cuttings from the well to the drilling unit for processing.

BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) has identified and implemented a number of responsive actions to prevent a reoccurrence of this type of failure.  These include:

News Release
For Immediate Release                                                                               

September 26, 2018

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) – The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has received a Project Description from Multiklient Invest (MKI) for a 2D/3D seismic program that could potentially be carried out in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

In April 2017, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board reviewed and approved an application from BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada), Interest Representative for Exploration Licences (ELs) 2431, 2432, 2433, and 2434, to enter into a consolidation agreement to consolidate these four ELs.

As per the conditions outlined in the June 2017 agreement, the effective date of the consolidated EL will be the spud date for the first validation well on one of the four ELs. A validation well is a term used to describe the first well drilled on an EL.

On April 20th, 2017, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (the Board) reviewed and approved an application from BP Canada Energy Group ULC,  Interest Representative for Exploration Licences (ELs) 2431, 2432, 2433, and 2434, to enter into a consolidation agreement to consolidate these four ELs.

The following key elements were considered by the Board in approving the consolidation application:

Please see below for an update on BP Canada (BP) Consolidated Exploration Licence 2434R.

All exploration licences (EL) have a maximum term of nine years, consisting of two periods referred to as Period 1 and Period 2.  Period 1 is six years from the effective date of the EL. Period 2 immediately follows Period 1 and consists of the balance of the nine year term of the EL.  At the end of Period 2, if there are no Significant Discoveries declared that result in the issuance of Significant Discovery Licence(s), the lands as defined in the EL revert to Crown.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) issued Call for Bids NS18-3, which includes two industry-nominated parcels, on December 10, 2018. The CNSOPB administers the Call for Bids process on behalf of the federal and provincial governments for the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. This includes identifying Call for Bids Forecast Areas, selecting yearly Call for Bids parcels, reviewing industry nominations, receiving and reviewing bids, and awarding Exploration Licences (ELs).

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) – The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) is updating a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Middle Scotian Shelf and Slope, to ensure that information on the area remains up-to-date.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment is a broad-scale study that looks at the larger environmental setting and marine environment to identify potential environmental effects that may be associated with oil and gas activity, and the associated mitigation measures that may need to be considered.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has completed its review and investigation of the unauthorized discharge of synthetic based drilling mud (drilling mud) that was reported by BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) on June 22, 2018, and has determined the following:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Bonnell-Eisnor to the position of Acting Chief Executive Officer while we determine next steps to fill the position permanently. This is effective November 1, 2019 as Stuart Pinks transitions out of the organization to begin his retirement.

Christine has been with the CNSOPB since 1999 and has worked in a number of roles within the organization, most recently as Director, Regulatory Affairs & Finance and Secretary of the Board.