Offshore

In Canada’s offshore, a robust regulatory regime governs all offshore activity and offshore operators are committed to developing resources responsibly. Operators meet or exceed all environmental protection regulations and adhere to best practices related to environmental protection and mitigation.

Before any offshore activity begins, regulators require an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the activity. Depending on the type of activity, an environmental assessment may be required by the applicable Offshore Petroleum Board or by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. With regard to the latter, the Offshore Petroleum Boards may still play a role in the assessment process.

These assessments are used as planning and decision-making tools. As part of the assessment process, operators identify mitigation measures planned to minimize environmental impacts.

Operators also develop and submit environmental protection plans to the appropriate regulatory authority. These plans outline measures proposed to prevent or mitigate potential effects on the environment and/or other ocean-based industries, like the fishing industry. As part of environmental protection planning, operators also develop contingency plans for environmental emergencies to ensure that adequate response measures, including trained workers and reliable equipment, are in place in the event of an incident. While the industry’s focus is on preventing environmental emergencies, proper response preparation is crucial.

Operators are committed to continuous improvement in environmental performance. Offshore operators regularly assess new research and technology as a means of identifying continuous improvement opportunities, and fund research dedicated to further strengthening environmental performance. Offshore operators in Newfoundland and Labrador established Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland & Labrador, (ERINL) a not-for-profit organization that identifies collaborative research, development and demonstration opportunities and facilitates projects on behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas industry. Offshore operators also fund research through the Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF).

Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore operators develop ice management plans to outline how they will detect, monitor, and manage icebergs before they pose a threat. The ice management plan is one element in an operator’s safety management system, which supports safe and environmentally responsible operations.

For detection, operators use aircraft reconnaissance, detection equipment on support vessels and installations, trajectory modelling and satellite imagery. Using these techniques, operators can effectively track icebergs and sea ice.

To deflect icebergs, the following techniques may be used:

Offshore operators design facilities with the harsh environment and seasonal presence of sea ice and icebergs in mind:

Offshore operators identify potential impacts of oil and gas activities on marine ecosystems, including seabirds, through research programs and mitigation measures. In recent years, as research related to interactions with seabirds has advanced, regulators now require companies to identify processes related to seabird observation and handling. The companies operating in the Atlantic offshore industry follow processes developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) related to seabird handling.

If a bird is found on an offshore facility, the operator follows specific procedures detailing the requirements for the handling of seabirds. Operators must obtain a Canadian Wildlife Service permit that includes specific conditions related to seabird handling.

In 2020, Newfoundland and Labrador offshore upstream oil and gas production accounted for 0.22% of Canada’s total emissions and 1% of Canada’s upstream oil and gas sector emissions. (Source: C-NLOPB Emissions Reduction Report)

Here are some examples of actions the offshore oil and gas industry in Atlantic Canada has taken to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

Offshore operators are also supporting research and development, including projects in the areas of use of alternative low carbon fuels in marine transportation, and new flare reduction technologies.

Offshore operators prepare Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) plans to identify and quantify any environmental effects related to their operations. These plans are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of actions to reduce effects, provide an early warning of undesirable changes in the environment, and assist in identifying research and development needs.

EEM programs generally include sampling marine sediments and one or more fishery species, both near the oil-producing facilities and at more distant control sites. The plans are developed according to guidelines outlined in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Coordination Framework developed by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB), Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB), the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

EEM builds on lessons learned from previous years of monitoring, including monitoring from other offshore projects. Every year, EEM results are submitted to regulators via annual reports which are posted to the CNLOPB and CNSOPB websites. The reports include a proposed new EEM plan for the upcoming year of operations.