The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board), an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada’s energy industry released filing requirements for future applications to drill in the Canadian Arctic Offshore.
The Filing Requirements follows several months of extensive consultation carried out across the North during the NEB’s Arctic Review. During the Arctic Review, many Northern residents stated that if drilling is to be authorized in the unique Arctic environment, it must be done right.
The report’s key findings include:
“Filing requirements set out the technical information we will need to see in future applications for offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic,” said NEB Chair and CEO Gaétan Caron.
“These new requirements provide clarity to future applicants and to those who will provide input into the Board’s decision to approve or deny an application for a well in the Arctic.”
The NEB, the federal body responsible for regulating offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic, announced on 11 May, 2010 that it would review Arctic safety and environmental offshore drilling requirements following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the Arctic Review, the Board examined the best available information on the hazards, risks and safety measures associated with offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic.
More than 40 meetings
To gather information, the Board held more than 40 meetings in 11 communities across all three Northern territories. The Board also released two sets of questions for participants asking for information about the 11 topics in the scope of the Arctic Review.
The Board also considered the recommendations of the U.S. Government’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and other reports like it to incorporate lessons learned.
Currently, there is no offshore drilling in Canada’s Arctic and there are no applications for drilling before the Board. While a number of companies hold Explorations Licenses in the Beaufort Sea, they would need to respond to the newly released filing requirements in their applications.
[mappress] Offshore Energy Today Staff, December 16, 2011; Image: NEB