The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has awarded two of its deepwater parcels. Statoil ASA committed to spend $82 million to explore Blocks NS15-1 Parcel 1 and Parcel 2. The offshore blocks are in 1,050-3,100 m of water about 250 km from Halifax, Nova Scotia. They cover a combined 650,000 sq km.
In May 2015, Nova Scotia announced the availability of seven new offshore deepwater blocks. Parcels 1 and 2 are adjacent to Shell Canada Ltd.’s deepwater acreage acquired in 2012 with partners Suncor Energy Ltd. and ConocoPhillips (OGJ Online, May 11, 2015).
According to CNSOPB, Shell spudded its first exploration well on the Scotian shelf, Cheshire L-97, on Oct. 23. As of Nov. 11, the projected 7,532-m well had reached a depth of 3,326 m. The well is being drilled with the Stena IceMax in 2,143 m of water.
