Photo Credit: Encana Corporation

Data & Environment Overview

This section contains lists of geological and geophysical reports available from the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board for the Call for Bids NS16-1 area in the Nova Scotia offshore. As well, relevant environmental assessment and GIS information is listed for each parcel.

The CNSOPB currently has geological, geophysical data and sample viewing areas located at the Geoscience Research Centre (GRC). Appointments to visit the GRC can be made by contacting Mary Jean Verrall, Supervisor, Geoscience Research Centre (902) 496-0761 or by e-mail mverrall@cnsopb.ns.ca.

Well data and exclusive seismic data for the parcels are available in digital pdf format. To obtain this digital data please visit www.cnsopbdmc.ca to apply for a user name and password for the CNSOPB’s online Data Management Centre.

The non-exclusive seismic data, that is available for disclosure, can be accessed, in hardcopy format only, at the CNSOPB’s Geoscience Research Centre;

Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board

Geoscience Research Centre
201 Brownlow Avenue, Suite 27
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
B3B 1W2
Canada
Phone: (902) 468-3994
Fax: (902) 468-4584
E-mail: mverrall@cnsopb.ns.ca

Disclosure of Technical Data

Sections 122 and 121, respectively of the federal and provincial legislation deal with the confidentiality and disclosure of information provided for the purposes of the legislation.

Information or documentation in respect of an exploratory well is held confidential for two years following the well termination date. The following confidentiality period for a delineation well is two years following the termination date of the discovery well on the same prospect, or 90 days following the well termination date of the delineation well, whichever is longer. For a development well, the confidentiality period is two years following the termination date of the discovery well on the same prospect, or 60 days following the termination date of the development well, whichever is longer. General information on a well, including its name, operator, classification, location, identity of the drilling unit, depth, and operation status of the drilling program may be obtained from the Board on a current basis.

Information or documentation in respect to non-exclusive geophysical work is held confidential for at least 10 years following the completion date of the work. The geophysical regulations define a non-exclusive survey as a geophysical operation that is conducted to acquire data for the purpose of sale, in whole or in part, to the public.

Information and documentation in respect to exclusive geological or exclusive geophysical work is held confidential for a period of five years following the completion date of the work. The date of completion is considered to occur six months after the field program is terminated. Operators are required to submit comprehensive reports on each program in the offshore area. These reports, together with associated items such as interpretative maps, seismic sections, well logs, cores, cuttings, fluid samples and paleontological materials derived from such programs are held confidential for the requisite period, and then released for public examination.

Explanation of Program Numbers for Geological and Geophysical Programs

Released geological, geophysical and related reports are listed alphabetically by program number and company code. Upon approval of an application to conduct a geophysical or geological program, a unique program number is assigned to the project by the regulator. The number is coded to contain the:

  • geographic region to which the program relates;
  • type of geophysical or geological work proposed;
  • company operating the program; and
  • sequential number of that type of program operated by that company.

For example, program number 8624-M003-044E indicates the 44th reflection seismic survey in the East Coast Offshore Region conducted exclusively for Mobil, and carried out prior to January, 1990. Since January 1990, new program numbers begin with 'NS' as opposed to '86'. This change indicates the program was carried out offshore Nova Scotia, after January 1990, e.g. NS24-M003-001E (1st reflection seismic survey in the Nova Scotia Offshore area conducted exclusively for Mobil, and carried out after January, 1990).

For additional information please see CNSOPB Geological and Geophysical Information Available on Call for Bids NS16-1.