Board issues Call for Bids NS13-1

HALIFAX, April 22, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has issued Call for Bids NS13-1. This Call consists of six (6) parcels on the central and eastern Scotian shelf in water depths that are generally less than 100 m. Bids must be received by October 24, 2013 before 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time.

"The Call for Bids NS13-1 area was one of the first regions to be explored on the Scotian Margin in the early 1970s," says Stuart Pinks, Board CEO.  "This early exploration effort established that a working, oil prone hydrocarbon system existed and the recently completed Play Fairway Analysis highlights this region as having significant oil potential. Parcel 1 includes the undeveloped Penobscot oil discovery which is estimated to contain 65 Million barrels of oil in place. There are two undrilled geological structures also with oil potential directly adjacent to the Penobscot discovery."

Parcel 1 is bordered by seven Significant Discoveries within the Sable Subbasin and Parcel 2 is adjacent to the Uniacke Significant Discovery. The Mic Mac J-77 and Mic Mac D-89 wells both encountered oil bearing sandstone reservoirs and are located on Parcel 3. Parcels 4, 5 and 6 also have demonstrated hydrocarbon potential as a number of wells encountered gas bearing sandstone reservoirs.

The Board has conducted a comprehensive geoscientific assessment of the Parcels which is available, along with regulatory information on its website at www.callforbids.ca.

"The successful bidder(s) will be awarded an Exploration Licence subject to federal and provincial Ministerial approval," says Mr. Pinks.

Two Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) have been completed over the areas identified in this Call for Bids. The SEAs are available on the Board's web site at www.cnsopb.ns.ca. The SEAs identify environmental issues, including area-specific mitigation measures, which successful bidder(s) would need to address when performing a project-specific environmental assessment (EA). A project specific EA is required before exploration or development activity may begin.

In addition, the public is invited to submit written comments to the Board on the lands included in this Call for Bids. Written submissions must be received by October 10, 2013, 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time. Such submissions will be considered by the Board before an Exploration Licence is issued.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board is the independent joint agency of the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia responsible for the regulation of petroleum activities and resources offshore Nova Scotia.

SOURCE: Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board

For further information:

Tanya Taylor White
Director, Public Relations & Administration
Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board 
1791 Barrington Street
18th Floor TD Center
Halifax, NS  B3J 3K9

Direct [phone]
Reception [phone]
Email:  [e-mail]

Full Background Information including mapped location of parcels can be found at www.callforbids.ca.