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

Marginal note:Emergency response procedures and other documentation

49 An operator must ensure that a copy of the most current version of the emergency response procedures and any documentation that is necessary to carry out an authorized work or activity and to operate and maintain an installation or pipeline is

• The following provision is not in force.

  (a) readily accessible at all times at every operations site and emergency response operations centre; and

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  (b) usable under all foreseeable circumstances at each location referred to in paragraph (a).

Marginal note:Implementation

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  50 (1) An operator must ensure that the safety plan referred to in section 9, the environmental protection plan referred to in section 10 and the resource management plan referred to in section 25 are implemented at the commencement of any work or activity and that the contingency plan referred to in section 11 is implemented as soon as an accidental event occurs or appears imminent.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Periodic updates

  (2) The operator must ensure that the safety plan, environmental protection plan, resource management plan and contingency plan are periodically updated; however, the descriptions of installations, vessels, systems and equipment that are included in the safety plan and the environmental protection plan as required by paragraphs 9(2)(c) and 10(2)(c), respectively, must be updated as soon as the circumstances permit after the modification, replacement or addition of any major component.

Marginal note:Measures

51 An operator must ensure that

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  (a) all equipment and materials that are necessary to conduct a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program are handled, installed, inspected, tested, maintained and operated in a manner that takes into account the manufacturer’s instructions and industry standards and best practices; and

• The following provision is not in force.

  (b) if any of the equipment, its components or the materials are defective, they are, without delay, repaired or replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Marginal note:Certification

52 An operator must ensure that a competent third party has certified that all equipment that is installed temporarily on a vessel to conduct a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program is fit for the purposes for which it is to be used.

Marginal note:Damage to property

53 An operator must take all necessary measures to ensure that no property is damaged as a result of a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program.

Marginal note:General requirements

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  54 (1) An operator must ensure that any energy source that is used in a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program is

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    (a) kept free from any substance that could create a hazard; and

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    (b) operated in a manner that prevents inadvertent activation of the energy source.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Electrical or electromagnetic energy source

  (2) The operator must ensure that any electrical or electromagnetic energy source is equipped with circuit breakers on the charging and discharging circuits and with wiring that is adequately insulated and grounded to prevent current leakage and electrical shock.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Elimination of risk to divers

  (3) The operator must ensure that the program is conducted in a manner that eliminates all safety risks to divers from any energy source used, including by determining the minimum distances that are required to be maintained between the divers and the energy source and ensuring compliance with those distances.

Marginal note:Testing of energy sources

• The following provision is not in force.

  55 (1) An operator must minimize energy source testing on the deck of an operations site while a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program is being conducted.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Energy source activation

  (2) Before an energy source is activated for testing purposes, the operator must ensure that measures are taken to protect persons at the operations site where the test will be conducted from exposure to any hazard associated with the energy source, including

  • The following provision is not in force.

    (a) advising those persons that a test will be conducted;

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    (b) safely securing all equipment; and

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    (c) in the case of an electrical or electromagnetic energy source, fully immersing it in water.

Marginal note:Classification

56 An operator must ensure that the primary vessel used in a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program holds a valid certificate of class issued by a classification society.

Marginal note:Prohibited without approval

• The following provision is not in force.

  57 (1) It is prohibited for any person to destroy, discard or, subject to subsection (2), remove from Canada the following materials and information that are obtained in the context of a geoscientific program, geotechnical program or environmental program unless the destruction, discard or removal is approved by the Board under subsection (3):

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    (a) all field data and final processed data that are in a digital format, together with a description of that data format;

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    (b) any samples; and

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    (c) all other data, observations, readings and supporting information obtained during the program.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Exception

  (2) The materials and information may be removed from Canada without the approval of the Board for the purpose of being processed in a foreign country if they are returned to Canada as soon as the processing is complete.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Approval of application

  (3) Within 60 days after the day on which the Board receives an application for approval to destroy, discard or remove from Canada materials or information, the Board must approve the application if the Board is satisfied that the materials or information are not of much use or value.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Provision of materials or information

  (4) The Board may, after receiving an application referred to in subsection (3), require that the materials or information, or a copy of the information, be provided to the Board within the period that it specifies.

Marginal note:Allocation of areas

58 The Board may make orders respecting the allocation of areas, including respecting the determination of the size of spacing units and the determination of well production rates, for the purpose of drilling for or producing petroleum.

Marginal note:Name, classification or status of well

59 The Board may give a name, classification or status to any well and may change that name, classification or status.

Marginal note:Pool, zone or field

60 The Board may

• The following provision is not in force.

  (a) designate a zone as such for the purposes of these Regulations;

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  (b) give a name to a pool, zone or field and change that name; and

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  (c) define the boundaries of a pool, zone or field.

Marginal note:Data acquisition programs

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  61 (1) An operator must ensure that the field data acquisition program referred to in section 13 and the well data acquisition program referred to in section 18 are implemented in accordance with good oilfield practices.

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  Marginal note:Partial implementation

  (2) If part of the field or well data acquisition program cannot be implemented, the operator must ensure that

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    (a) a conservation officer is notified as soon as the circumstances permit;

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    (b) measures to otherwise achieve the goals of the program are submitted to the Board for approval; and

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    (c) the measures approved by the Board are implemented.

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  Marginal note:Board approval of alternate measures

  (3) The Board must approve the measures submitted under paragraph (2)(b) if the operator demonstrates that the measures can achieve the goals of the field data acquisition program or the well data acquisition program, as the case may be, or are the only ones that can be taken in the circumstances.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Periodic updates

  (4) The operator must ensure that the field data acquisition program is periodically updated.

Marginal note:Formation evaluation, testing and sampling

62 If the Board determines that data or samples from a formation in a well would contribute substantially to the geological and reservoir evaluation, the operator must ensure that the formation is evaluated, tested and sampled as necessary to obtain the data or samples.

Marginal note:Formation flow test

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  63 (1) An operator must ensure that no development well is put into production unless a formation flow test that has been approved by the Board under subsection (5) is conducted.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Well operation

  (2) If a development well is subjected to a well operation that might change its deliverability, productivity or injectivity, the operator must, for the purpose of determining the effects of the operation on the well’s deliverability, productivity or injectivity, ensure that a formation flow test that has been approved by the Board under subsection (5) is conducted as soon as the circumstances permit after the well operation has ended and the flow or injection conditions have stabilized.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Conditions

  (3) Before conducting a formation flow test on a well drilled on a geological feature, the operator must

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    (a) submit a formation flow test program to the Board; and

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    (b) obtain the Board’s approval under subsection (5) to conduct the formation flow test.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Contribution to geological and reservoir evaluation

  (4) The Board may require that the operator conduct a formation flow test on a well drilled on a geological feature, other than the first well, if the Board determines that the test would contribute to the geological and reservoir evaluation.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Approval of formation flow test

  (5) The Board must approve a formation flow test if the operator demonstrates that the test will be conducted in a manner that ensures safety and the protection of the environment and in accordance with good oilfield practices and that the test will enable the operator to

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    (a) obtain data on the deliverability of the reservoir and the productivity of the well;

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    (b) establish the characteristics of the reservoir; and

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    (c) obtain representative samples of the formation fluids.

Marginal note:Samples and cores

• The following provision is not in force.

  64 (1) An operator must ensure that all drill cutting and fluid samples and cores collected as part of the field data acquisition program referred to in section 13 and the well data acquisition program referred to in section 18 are

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    (a) stored in durable containers that are correctly labelled for identification;

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    (b) transported and stored in a manner that prevents any loss or deterioration; and

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    (c) delivered to the Board within 60 days after the day on which the well is abandoned, suspended or completed, unless the analyses are ongoing, in which case the samples or cores, or any remaining parts, are to be delivered to the Board on completion of the analyses.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Remaining conventional core

  (2) An operator must ensure that, after any samples necessary for analysis or for research or academic studies have been removed from a conventional core, the remaining core, or a longitudinal slab that is not less than one half of the cross-sectional area of that core, is delivered to the Board.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Remaining sidewall core

  (3) The operator must ensure that, after any samples necessary for analysis or for research or academic studies have been removed from a sidewall core, the remaining core is delivered to the Board.