Primarily prescriptive regulations; however, the Chief Safety Officer and Chief Conservation Officer may, subject to certain criteria, authorize the use of equipment, methods, measures, or standards in lieu of any required by regulation, or grant an exemption from any regulatory requirement in respect of equipment, methods, measures, or standards.
Physical Objects In The Regime:
Drilling of exploratory and production wells is carried out using jack-up or semi-submersible drilling units, or drill ships. Numbers of MODU's vary; currently there are 3. In addition, the Boards regulate construction vessels, diving vessels and seismic vessels involved with oil and gas exploration and exploitation.
Offshore Nova Scotia:
One operational natural gas project comprising: five (5) production platforms (2 manned, 3 unmanned), and one 26" pipeline (approximately 225 kilometers in length) to bring gas to shore. One additional natural gas project is proposed for start of operations in 2010. This project would have one production platform, and up to 6 to 9 sub-sea tie-backs. An additional pipeline may be constructed to bring gas ashore if the above referenced pipeline is not utilised.
Offshore Newfoundland and Labrador:
Three oil producing projects comprising: one GBS integrated drilling (2 rigs) production accommodation installation, and two FPSOs. All oil is shipped by shuttle tankers which are outside of the Board's regulatory responsibility.
Assurance Mechanisms:
Certificate of Fitness from a recognized certifying authority required for installations (drilling, accommodation, diving, and production installations);
Board inspection, audit and investigation programmes;
Industry self inspections and audits; and
Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee requirement
Financial Basis:
Initially the CNSOPB budget is jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia. Likewise, the C-NLOPB budget is jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. However, the governments have established a fee based cost recovery program to partially offset funding requirements.
