Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations (SOR/2024-26)

Marginal note:Monitoring of systems

• The following provision is not in force.

  169 (1) An operator must ensure that an installation is equipped with a central monitoring system in the main control centre to monitor all systems whose failure could cause or contribute to an accidental event or waste.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Management of associated systems

  (2) The operator must ensure that the alarm, safety, monitoring, warning and control functions associated with the systems that are monitored under subsection (1) are managed to prevent reportable incidents and waste.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Suspension of related system

  (3) When a function referred to in subsection (2) is suspended or found to be impaired, the operator must ensure that the use of any related system is also suspended until

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    (a) in the case of a function that is suspended, that function is returned to service; and

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    (b) in the case of a function that was found to be impaired, measures are implemented to offset the risk of a reportable incident or waste.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Affected persons informed

  (4) The operator must ensure that all affected persons are informed when a function referred to in subsection (2) is suspended and when it is returned to service.

Marginal note:Deterioration

• The following provision is not in force.

  170 (1) An operator must, without delay, notify the Chief Safety Officer of any deterioration of an installation, including its systems or equipment, or of a pipeline, well, vessel or support craft if that deterioration could adversely affect safety or the environment.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Notice to certifying authority

  (2) If an installation, system, equipment, pipeline or part of a well referred to in subsection (1) is within the scope of work referred to in section 31, the operator must also, without delay, notify the certifying authority of the deterioration.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Impairment rectification

  (3) The operator must ensure that any impairment of an installation, including its systems or equipment, or of a pipeline, well, vessel or support craft is rectified without delay if the impairment could adversely affect safety or the environment.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Mitigation measures

  (4) If it is not possible to rectify the impairment without delay, the operator must

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    (a) conduct a risk assessment to identify risk mitigation measures;

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    (b) implement those mitigation measures; and

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    (c) ensure that the impairment is rectified as soon as the circumstances permit.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Non-application

  (5) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply in respect of safety-critical elements.

Marginal note:Support craft

• The following provision is not in force.

  171 (1) An operator must, in respect of an installation on which persons are normally present, ensure that

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    (a) a support craft that is at a distance from the installation not greater than that required for a return time of 20 minutes is available at all times for emergency response; and

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    (b) whenever an aircraft is landing or taking off, or personnel are working over the side or otherwise exposed to the risk of falling in the water, a support craft is available in the immediate vicinity of the installation and ready to undertake rescue and recovery operations.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Requirements

  (2) The support craft referred to in subsection (1) must be

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    (a) capable of safely providing necessary support functions in the foreseeable physical and environmental conditions prevailing in the area in which it operates;

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    (b) equipped to supply emergency services, including rescue and first aid treatment, for all personnel on the installation in the event of an emergency; and

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    (c) equipped with a self-righting fast rescue boat that

    • (i) meets the requirements under chapter V of the LSA Code,

    • (ii) is capable of being launched and retrieved when it is loaded with a full complement of persons and equipment, and

    • (iii) is ready for deployment in the event of an emergency.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Required distance exceeded

  (3) If the support craft is located at a distance that exceeds the distance referred to in paragraph (1)(a), both the installation manager and the person in charge of the support craft must log that fact and the reason why the distance or time was exceeded.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Vessel master

  (4) During any activity or situation referred to in paragraph (1)(b), or any other activity or situation that presents an increased level of risk to the safety of the installation, the vessel master must, under the direction of the installation manager, keep the craft in close proximity to the installation, maintain open communication channels with the installation and be prepared to conduct rescue operations.

Marginal note:Rescue boat — vessel

172 An operator must, in respect of any vessel that is used in a geoscientific program, geotechnical program, environmental program, diving project or construction activity, ensure that a rescue boat is available and ready for use in the event of an emergency.

Marginal note:Safety zone

• The following provision is not in force.

  173 (1) A support craft must not enter the safety zone around an installation or around a vessel that is engaged in a geoscientific program, geotechnical program, environmental program or diving project without the consent of the installation manager or the person in charge of the operations site.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Notice to approaching aircraft or vessel

  (2) The operator must ensure that persons who are in charge of an aircraft or vessel that is approaching the safety zone are notified of the safety zone boundaries and of any hazards within that zone that relate to the operator’s installation or vessel.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Boundaries — installation

  (3) The safety zone around an installation consists of the area within a line that encloses the installation and is drawn at a distance of 500 m from the outer edge of the installation or, if any component of the installation extends beyond that edge, from the outer limit of the component that extends furthest from that edge.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Boundaries — vessel

  (4) The safety zone around a vessel referred to in subsection (1) consists of the area within a line that encloses the vessel and any of its attached equipment and is drawn at a distance that minimizes risks to safety, the environment and property located nearby, including fishing gear or fishing vessels.

Marginal note:Landing area

• The following provision is not in force.

  174 (1) An operator must ensure that the aircraft landing area on an installation or vessel and the equipment that is used in that area or that otherwise supports the take-off or landing of aircraft are designed to ensure safety and the protection of the environment and to prevent incidents or damage resulting from the use of aircraft.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Requirements

  (2) The operator must ensure that the landing area

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    (a) has an obstacle-free take-off and approach area and is oriented relative to prevailing winds;

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    (b) can withstand all functional loads imposed by aircraft;

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    (c) can accommodate aircraft of expected sizes;

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    (d) has emergency response and firefighting equipment;

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    (e) has conspicuous markings and signage;

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    (f) has adequate lighting, including in reduced visibility conditions;

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    (g) has monitoring and status light systems and communication and meteorological equipment;

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    (h) is readily and safely accessible, including from the accommodations areas and from any temporary safe refuge; and

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    (i) in the case of a landing area on an installation, is equipped with fuel storage tanks.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Fuel storage tanks

  (3) The operator must ensure that any fuel storage tanks that are in proximity to a landing area are stored safely and protected from damage, impact and fire.

Marginal note:Procedures

175 The operator must ensure the establishment of procedures associated with the support of aircraft operations, including procedures for emergency response, and of a training program for personnel for those purposes.

Marginal note:Aircraft service provider

176 An operator must ensure that, before the start of any operations that require the use of an aircraft, the aircraft service provider has accepted in writing all conditions with respect to the use of the equipment in any landing area, the procedures associated with the support of aircraft operations, including the procedures for emergency response, and the training program for personnel in respect of those matters.

Marginal note:Classification

177 An operator must ensure that any support or construction vessel to be used in conjunction with an installation holds a valid certificate of class issued by a classification society according to the work or activity to be carried out by it.

Marginal note:Definition of shotpoint

178 In this Part, shotpoint means the surface location of a seismic energy source.

Marginal note:Reportable incidents

• The following provision is not in force.

  179 (1) An operator must notify the Board of a reportable incident as soon as the circumstances permit, but not later than 24 hours after becoming aware of the incident.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Investigation

  (2) The operator must ensure that

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    (a) any reportable incident is investigated;

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    (b) the person who conducts the investigation includes in their investigation report the root causes of the reportable incident, the contributing factors, measures to be implemented to prevent its recurrence and any other relevant information; and

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    (c) the investigation report is submitted to the Board not later than 14 days after the day on which the reportable incident occurred.

Marginal note:Accessibility of records

180 An operator must ensure that any records that are necessary to support operational requirements and the requirements of these Regulations are readily accessible to the Board for examination.

Marginal note:Critical information

• The following provision is not in force.

  181 (1) An operator must ensure that records are kept of all information — including the following — that is critical to safety, the protection of the environment or the prevention of waste:

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    (a) information on the location and movement of support craft;

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    (b) information on reportable incidents;

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    (c) information on emergency drills and exercises;

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    (d) information on the quantities of consumable substances at any operations site;

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    (e) data resulting from any required observation of wildlife;

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    (f) information on verification, inspection, monitoring, testing, maintenance and operating activities;

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    (g) information on the status of all systems and equipment identified in the safety plan as being critical to safety or in the environmental protection plan as being critical to the protection of the environment, including any test result indicating that the systems or equipment are not functioning as intended and information on any equipment failure that has led to an impairment of any of those systems; and

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    (h) information on the physical and environmental conditions observed and forecasted under section 42.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Retention periods

  (2) The operator must retain the records referred to in subsection (1) for the following periods:

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    (a) in the case of the records referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (e) to (g) and those referred to in paragraph (1)(h) regarding forecasted conditions, five years after the day on which the record is created;

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    (b) in the case of the records referred to in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c),

    • (i) five years after the day on which the drill or exercise is carried out, and

    • (ii) 10 years after the day on which the reportable incident is reported;

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    (c) in the case of the records referred to in paragraph (1)(d), for as long as the consumable substance is at the operations site; and

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    (d) in the case of the records referred to in paragraph (1)(h) regarding conditions observed, for the duration of the authorized work or activity.