News Releases 2012

C-NLOPB Lays Charges Against Suncor Energy Inc.

For Immediate Release
April 4, 2012

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
(C-NLOPB) has laid three charges against Suncor Energy Inc., Operator of the exploration drilling program at the Ballicatters M96-Z well located in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin on Exploration Licences 1092 and 1113, for alleged offences related to a spill of synthetic based mud (SBM) from the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) Henry Goodrich operating in the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area. SBM is a heavy, dense fluid used during drilling operations to lubricate the drill pipe and balance reservoir pressure.

The charges result from an investigation by C-NLOPB Conservation Officers following a report of a spill of 26,400 litres of SBM into the ocean on Monday, March 28, 2011 from the drilling rig. The Operator is charged with causing or permitting a spill into the Offshore Area, failure to ensure that drilling fluids were stored and handled in a manner that would have prevented pollution, and failure to ensure that drilling fluids were handled in a way that did not create a hazard to safety or the environment.

The C-NLOPB is the independent joint agency of the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador responsible for the regulatory oversight of petroleum activities in the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area, including; health and safety for offshore workers, protection of the environment during offshore petroleum activities, management and conservation of offshore petroleum resources, compliance with the provisions of the Accord Acts that deal with Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador employment and industrial benefits, issuance of licences for offshore exploration and development, and resource evaluation, data collection, curation and distribution.

Media Contact:
Sean Kelly M.A.,APR, FCPRS
Manager of Public Relations
(709) 778-1418
(709) 689-0713 (cell)
skelly@cnlopb.nl.ca


News Releases 2012

DateUpdate
2012, Dec 7SEIS Consultancy Services
2012, Nov 30Incident Reporting and Investigation Guidelines – Updated
2012, Nov 2C-NLOPB Releases Results for Call for Bids NL12-01 and Call for Bids NL12-02
2012, Oct 25C-NLOPB Announces Chairman and CEO
2012, Oct 23C-NLOPB announces details of the public consultation session in Gaspé, Quebec for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Update
2012, Oct 16C-NLOPB announces further details regarding public consultation sessions for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Update
2012, Oct 9Return to Night Passenger Transport Operations Report
2012, Oct 5Suncor Energy Inc. pleads guilty to offence
2012, Oct 5C-NLOPB making adjustments to its public consultation process for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Strategic Environmental Assessment update
2012, Oct 2C-NLOPB announces a public consultation session in Gaspe, Quebec for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Update
2012, Sep 28C-NLOPB announces further details regarding public consultation sessions for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Update
2012, Sep 21Strategic Environmental Assessment Update Public Consultation Sessions
2012, Sep 21C-NLOPB announces public consultation sessions for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Updates
2012, Sep 13AMEC Environmental & Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to prepare the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment Update
2012, Aug 23C-NLOPB Releases 2011-12 Annual Report
2012, Jun 14C-NLOPB issues Notice of Non-Compliance to Multi Klient Invest AS
2012, Jun 8C-NLOPB Aware of Complaint of Possible Seismic Survey Interference with Fishing Activity
2012, May 31Hebron Development Application Approved
2012, May 16C-NLOPB Conducts Second Safety Forum
2012, Apr 5C-NLOPB Announces 2012 Call for Bids (Flemish Pass)
2012, Apr 4C-NLOPB Lays Charges Against Suncor Energy Inc.
2012, Mar 26Request for Proposals for the Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment Update
2012, Mar 9C-NLOPB Announces 2012 Call for Bids (Laurentian Subbasin)
2012, Feb 28Hebron Development Application Report Released
2012, Feb 28C-NLOPB Announces its Decision on a Request from Corridor Resources Inc. for a ‘Prohibition Order’
2012, Jan 20Old Harry Public Review Delayed
2012, Jan 6C-NLOPB Corrects CIVC Statement Regarding the Status of Drilling Operations
2012, Jan 4North Amethyst Development Plan Amendment