News Releases 2022

C-NLOPB Releases Results for 2022 Calls for Bids

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2022

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) is announcing the results of Call for Bids NL22-CFB01 (Eastern Newfoundland Region) and Call for Bids NL22-CFB02 (South Eastern Newfoundland Region). Both Calls for Bids were previously approved by the federal and Newfoundland and Labrador governments. The awarding of exploration licences arising from any Call for Bids is a Fundamental Decision, meaning it is subject to further approvals by the federal and provincial governments.

Five successful bids were received for Call for Bids NL22-CFB01 (Eastern Newfoundland Region), totaling $238,075,321 in work commitments and covering 1,222,907 hectares. No bids were received for the South Eastern Newfoundland Region Call for Bids.

The sole criterion for selecting a winning bid is the total amount the bidder commits to spend on exploration of the parcel during Period I (the first six-year period of a nine-year licence). The minimum acceptable bid for each parcel is $10,000,000 in work commitments.

Parcels included in Call for Bids NL22-CFB01 can be found in the following map Call for Bids NL22-CFB01 Parcels map

Details on the successful bids are as follows:

Successful Bid Results for Call for Bids NL22-CFB01
(Exploration Licences, Eastern Newfoundland Region)
ParcelHectaresSuccessful BiddersSuccessful Bid Amount
8267,686ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. (70%)
QPI Energy Canada Ltd.  (30%)
$181,575,321
12266,079BP Canada Energy Group ULC (100%)$16,500,000
26252,271Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%)
BP Canada Energy Group ULC (40%)
$15,200,000
27273,706Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%)
BP Canada Energy Group ULC (40%)
$14,000,000
28163,165Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%)
BP Canada Energy Group ULC (40%)
$10,800,000
Total1,22,902$238,075,321

Offshore safety and environmental protection are paramount in all Board decisions. The C-NLOPB supports action by the federal and provincial governments to address climate change and protect notable marine areas, working closely with governments and others in this regard. Emissions-related considerations will be assessed as part of the regulatory review process should companies propose specific plans.

Planning, monitoring and assessment of offshore petroleum activities will ensure they occur in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Required regional and/or site-specific mitigation measures will be undertaken before any petroleum-related operations can begin within a licence area, as conditions of
C-NLOPB approvals and authorizations. The timing, spatial extent, and nature of proposed oil and gas activities, in addition to mitigations already prescribed by legislation or regulation, will determine the level of restriction or mitigation that may be required.

The Eastern Newfoundland Region includes a number of important areas for fish harvesters who fish crab and other species. The C-NLOPB fully appreciates the importance of both the fisheries and petroleum sectors and will continue to engage with fisheries stakeholders, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), other federal and provincial agencies and other stakeholders throughout the land tenure process. Like any companies acquiring Exploration Licences, the successful bidders from Call for Bids NL22-CFB01 will be required to engage with fishing interests before any oil and gas activities are authorized.

Parcel 12 also overlaps with a portion of the Northeast Newfoundland Slope Marine Refuge. The C-NLOPB is focused on the protection of environmentally significant areas and will also continue to work closely with DFO and others in this regard.

As most of these parcels are beyond Canada’s 200 nautical mile zone, additional terms and conditions may be applied (e.g. through legislation, regulations, amendments to licences or otherwise) to the resulting licences from this Call for Bids in order to meet obligations arising pursuant to article 82 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Subject to bidders satisfying the requirements specified and receiving government approvals, the Board will issue the new exploration licences in January 2023. Further detailed information about these Calls for Bids is available on the C-NLOPB website or C-NLOPB Data and Information Hub.

Any parties interested in receiving email notifications on Scheduled Land Tenure related announcements can contact Shannon Bulger at sbulger@cnlopb.ca.

Media Contact:
Lesley Rideout
Communications Lead
(709) 725-2900
lrideout@cnlopb.ca

Stakeholder Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, P.Geo
Director, Offshore and Information Resources
(709) 778-4246
sjohnson@cnlopb.ca


News Releases 2022

DateUpdate
2022, Dec 16Charges Laid Against Suncor Energy Inc. in Relation to Injured Worker on Terra Nova FPSO in December 2019 Incident
2022, Nov 2C-NLOPB Releases Results for 2022 Calls for Bids
2022, Sep 20C-NLOPB Announces 2022 Call for Nominations (Parcels) in the Jeanne d’Arc Region
2022, Sep 2Charges laid against Transocean Canada Drilling Services Ltd. in relation to the September 6, 2019 Injured Worker on the MODU Transocean Barents
2022, Jul 5Charges Laid Against Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. in Relation to the July 17, 2019 Spill from the Hibernia Platform
2022, Jun 24C-NLOPB Announces Update of Reserve Estimate for the Hibernia Field
2022, May 16C-NLOPB Identifies New Sector for Scheduled Land Tenure in the Eastern Newfoundland Region
2022, May 11C-NLOPB Announces 2022 Calls for Bids in the Eastern Newfoundland and South Eastern Newfoundland Regions
2022, Apr 26C-NLOPB Announces Update of Reserve Estimate for the North Amethyst Field
2022, Apr 8C-NLOPB Issues Administrative Monetary Penalty to Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. in Response to August 2019 Spill
2022, Apr 8C-NLOPB Rescinds Order Respecting Essential Employees
2022, Mar 28Bilingual Services now available at the C-NLOPB, including new French website
2022, Feb 14C-NLOPB Reflects on the 40th Anniversary of the Ocean Ranger Disaster
2022, Jan 14C-NLOPB Issues Call for Nominations for Areas of Interest (Eastern Newfoundland)