The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has issued Call for Bids NS11-1. The Call consists of eight deep water parcels offshore Nova Scotia, some of which were nominated by industry. Bids must be received by Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Time. The Board will only accept bids from companies that have experience in the drilling of exploration wells in water depths greater than 800 meters in the past ten years.

“This Call for Bids includes deepwater parcels located in a largely unexplored area of Nova Scotia’s offshore,” says Stuart Pinks, Board CEO. “The Offshore Energy Technical Research Association’s (OETR) Play Fairway Analysis provides strong evidence that this area could have significant oil potential. The parcels are located in a geological region that contains many large undrilled structures that could trap oil or gas.”

The Board has made detailed geoscientific assessments and regulatory information associated with the parcels available on its website.

The successful bidder(s) will be awarded an Exploration Licence (EL) subject to federal and provincial Ministerial approval.

The CNSOPB is preparing a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for exploration activities in areas identified in this Call for Bids which will include two public comment periods; one on the scope of the assessment and the other public comment period on the draft SEA report. The SEA will identify any environmental issues that a successful bidder would need to address when performing a project-specific environmental assessment which is required before any activity can 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 Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Time. Such submissions will be considered by the Board before an Exploration Licence is issued.

Tags: The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB)