The Maritimes Energy Association Commends Decision by C-NSOPB

October 23, 2015 (Halifax, NS) – The Maritimes Energy Association is pleased to see the favourable decision made by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NSOPB) to grant Shell Canada an Operations Authorization that will allow them to begin their Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project offshore Nova Scotia with the Cheshire well.

“We fully support their decision and appreciate and commend their regulatory framework,” says Maritimes Energy CEO Ray Ritcey. “This decision by the C-NSOPB, which provides Shell Canada with a green light to start drilling exploratory wells off of Nova Scotia for the first time in ten years, is good news for our region.”

This project will mean economic activity and substantial job creation in the months to come for the people of Nova Scotia. Several of our member companies are supplying services to Shell Canada throughout the project including AMEC Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Atlantic Towing, Blue Water Group, David Aplin Group, Fugro

GeoSurveys, Halliburton Group Canada, I.H. Mathers, Intertek, JASCO Applied Sciences (Canada) Ltd., Lloyd’s

Register North America Inc., Normatec Consultants Inc., Offshore Recruiting Services Inc., Orion Group Atlantic Ltd., Secunda Canada LP, Stantec Consulting Ltd., TAM International, Terrapure Environmental, Waterford Energy Services and Weatherford Canada Partnership.

The requirements put in place by the C-NSOPB over the past five years regarding real time monitors and significant improvements to the blowout preventer will help to ensure a safe and successful drilling project. The association believes that through the C-NSOPB’s extensive regulatory processes, Shell is prepared for any form of incident that could occur. Shell has continuously stated that their main priority is preventing a spill from happening in the first place and they have measures in place that draw on more than 35 years of experience of exploring and operation in deep-water environments.

“Nova Scotia has a long history of successful offshore drilling,” says Ritcey. “Over 200 wells have been drilled offshore Nova Scotia over the years and there has been significant improvement in technology since the last well was drilled.”

Shell has been a good neighbour in Nova Scotia in the past and promises to be again throughout this exploration drilling project. The Maritimes Energy Association wishes Shell Canada all the best as they embark on this exploration project offshore Nova Scotia and we remain optimistic that they will find success in their discoveries.

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About The Maritimes Energy Association

The Maritimes Energy Association is a not-for-profit industry organization representing companies in eastern Canada that provide goods and services to the energy industry – onshore and offshore, renewable and non-renewable, domestic and export markets. For more information, visit www.maritimesenergy.com.

Media Contact:

Ray Ritcey
CEO, The Maritimes Energy Association
Ray@MaritimesEnergy.com
(902) 717-5483

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