Despite the continued downturn in oil prices and the associated global decrease in industry activity, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area continues to be a busy place.

The C-NLOPB is continuing to closely monitor cost cutting measures by local operators in our continued oversight of offshore safety, environmental protection, local benefits and effective management of offshore petroleum resources.

Our Safety and Operations departments are particularly focused on asset and well integrity, training and competency, and safety culture. Our staff work closely with our Canadian and international counterparts in these areas, in addition to operators and certifying authorities.

In addition to our ongoing efforts related to environmental assessments, authorizations and compliance monitoring, our Environmental Affairs Department has begun its work to update the Labrador Strategic Environmental Assessment, which was completed in 2008.

A significant number of exploration seismic programs are underway this summer, reflecting the continued interest in our offshore oil and gas potential. Our Core Storage and Research Centre has never been busier. The eyes of the petroleum industry world will be on us in the lead up to the November 9 close of the Call for Bids for the Jeanne d’Arc and Eastern Newfoundland Regions.

Our staff are also actively engaged with the federal and provincial governments and other Canadian offshore regulators in ongoing efforts to modernize the regulatory regime that we administer in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area. We are also working on updates to the Board’s regulatory guidance in a number of areas.

As always, I am proud of the world-class work by the dedicated professionals at the C-NLOPB. I would like to close this post by highlighting their contributions to their community in recent months, including volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, participating in and raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s inaugural Newfoundland and Labrador Ride for Heart, and giving back on an individual basis in many ways, everyday.

I wish you all a safe and happy rest of summer.

Blog 2016