Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) received five successful bids for Eastern Newfoundland Region exploration licenses totaling $238,075,321 (Can.) in work commitments and covering 1,222,907 hectares. No bids were received for the South Eastern Newfoundland region.
ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. produced the winning bid (operator, 70% interest) for Parcel 8 of Orphan basin, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, bid partner QatarEnergy (QPI Energy Canada Ltd. 30%) said in a release Nov. 3.
Offshore Eastern Canada, Parcel 8 lies in water depths of 2,500-3,000 m and covers an area of about 2,700 sq km.
Other successful bids were BP Canada Energy Group ULC for Parcel 12 (100%); Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%) and BP Canada Energy Group Ltd. (40%) for Parcel 26, Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%) and BP Canada Energy Group Ltd. (40%) for Parcel 27; and Equinor Canada Ltd. (60%) and BP Canada Energy Group Ltd. (40%) for Parcel 28.
Subject to bidders satisfying the requirements specified and receiving government approvals, C-NLOPB will issue the new exploration licenses in January 2023.