February 23, 2017
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB), in conjunction with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), jointly revised the Drilling and Production Guidelines (previously released on March 31, 2011).
Notable changes in the Draft 2017 Guidelines are summarized in Table 1 below and are highlighted throughout the document for reference. Note that Table 1 is not inclusive of all changes or additions that were made to the Guidelines.
Section 6 of the 2011 Guidelines (Application for Authorization) was re-organized in preparing the Draft 2017 Guidelines. Therefore, Table 2 cross-references the 2011 section # and the corresponding section # in the 2017 Draft Guideline.
The two Boards are currently seeking comments on the draft Drilling and Production Guidelines. Please note that comments should be limited to the highlighted areas. Comments related to sections of the Guideline that were not revised (including portions of Section 6) will not be considered at this time.
It is also important to note that there is a parallel process ongoing, the Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative (FORRI), and there will be a separate review process for those Regulations and Guidance documents. The review of the Draft 2017 Guidelines is a separate scope of work. The Draft 2017 Drilling and Production Guidelines are intended to be an interim measure, until such time as the FORRI Regulations and Guidelines are finalized. The FORRI Guidelines will replace the 2017 Drilling and Production Guidelines.
Comments may be submitted to the addresses below or emailed to consultation@cnsopb.ns.ca until April 10, 2017. Upon receipt, all submissions will be considered by the two Boards.
Attention: Christine Bonnell-Eisnor
Director, Regulatory Affairs & Finance
8th Floor TD Center
1791 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS
B3J 3K9
Attention: John Crocker
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
5th Floor, TD Place
140 Water Street
St. John’s, NL
A1C 6H6