News Releases 1998

Backgrounder – The Role of the Certifying Authority

For Immediate Release
August 21, 1998

The regulations governing petroleum activities in the Newfoundland offshore area require that operators of production, drilling, diving and accommodation installations obtain a Certificate of Fitness from a recognized Certifying Authority (CA) for these installations before the C-NOPB may authorize their use.

Because these installations are large and technically complex industrial structures, it was considered impractical to attempt to establish and maintain within government a group with the diverse expertise required to assess the adequacy of their design and construction. Therefore, the federal and provincial governments have recognized four organizations with internationally recognized expertise in these areas to act as Certifying Authorities under the regulations. They are:

American Bureau of Shipping
Bureau Veritas
Det norske Veritas, and
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping

A Certificate of Fitness attests that the installation to which it refers:

  • Has been designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the applicable regulations and any conditions established by the relevant regulatory authorities
  • Is fit for the purpose for which it is to be used and can be operated safely at the intended location without polluting the environment
  • Has an established inspection, maintenance and weight control program that will ensure the installation retains its “fit for purpose” condition.

The scope of work for the CA’s certification activities respecting an installation must be acceptable to the Board’s Chief Safety Officer who may require additional design reviews, surveys or examinations to be conducted by the CA at any time.


News Releases 1998

DateUpdate
1998, Dec 22C-NLOPB Restricts Oil Production at Hibernia
1998, Dec 41998 Maps / Cartes
1998, Dec 3C-NOPB DECLARES CONFIGURATION OF TERRA NOVA COMMERCIAL DISCOVERY AREA
1998, Sep 181998 LAND SALE RESULTS
1998, Aug 21C-NOPB Releases its Decision Respecting the Application by the Terra Nova Alliance to use alternate standards for the selection of structural materials and the fabrication of the topsides modules for the Terra Nova Production System.
1998, Aug 21Backgrounder – The Role of the Certifying Authority
1998, Aug 21Backgrounder – C-NLOPB’s Regulatory Query Process
1998, Jul 15Terra Nova Engineering
1998, Jul 7HIBERNIA GEMEVAC INCIDENT
1998, Jun 30TERRA NOVA ENGINEERING
1998, Jun 17C-NOPB MAKES SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY DECLARATION
1998, May 13NEW CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER APPOINTED FOR THE CANADA-NEWFOUNDLAND OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BOARD
1998, Mar 101998 Call for Bids
1998, Jan 15C-NLOPB APPROVES TERRA NOVA CANADA-NEWFOUNDLAND BENEFITS PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1998, Jan 15C-NLOPB APPROVES TERRA NOVA CANADA-NEWFOUNDLAND BENEFITS PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN
1998, Jan 15L’OFFICE CANADA – TERRE-NEUVE DES HYDROCARBURES EXTRACôTIERS APPROUVE LE PLAN DE RETOMBéES éCONOMIQUES ET LE PLAN DE MISE EN VALEUR DE TERRA NOVA
1998, Jan 141997 LAND SALE RESULTS