Information Management Centre

We are curators and preserve information and data for future generations. We collect, manage, and distribute information generated from energy activities in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Some fossils found in our core date back 125 million years.

As of December 2019, 210 wells have been drilled in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

We have more than 166,000 vials of washed drill cuttings and 140,000 bags of unwashed drill cuttings in our warehouse.

The Information Management Centre contains over six kilometres of core.

Digital Information Management Centre

Our digital Information Management Centre offers public access to copies of our offshore information and date online free of charge. Our digital Information Management Centre was the first of its kind in North America and we want to share access to it with the public. Learn more about our Digital Information Management Centre here.

Onsite Information Management Centre

Our onsite Information Management Centre is open to the public, by appointment, Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For additional information, please contact 902-422-5588 or email info@cnsoer.ca

Storage and Curating Information

Storing and curating information from offshore activities is one of our legislative responsibilities. Operators authorized to conduct activities in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area must follow specific reporting requirements to provide us with information, such as geological and geophysical data, reports and samples. Information received as a result of these activities is stored at our Information Management Centre located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Storing this information is important. It helps us preserve information about the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area and assist the public, academia, industry, and other government departments and agencies to better understand our offshore energy resources.

Learn more about how we preserve our reports and samples, and how you can view this information below.

We have available to the public over 530 geological and geophysical reports, and samples of the earth’s core, from 210 offshore oil and gas wells.

We house all geological and geophysical reports, well site survey reports and subsurface samples, including microfiche records of geological and well history information in our Information Management Centre.

We store well site samples and geological samples in the form of washed cuttings, unwashed cuttings, sidewall core, and conventional core. We also have fluid samples that are stored in a flammable goods freezer so that they are properly preserved.

When reports and samples are submitted, they are classified and catalogued so that they are easily retrievable.

Our centre has public viewing space and a laboratory that individuals can use to aid in their study and to process samples.

Public Viewing Room
The viewing room is available for those who want to look at samples and core. This viewing room has layout tables for studying cores/samples and microfiche viewing equipment. We also have a collection of micropaleontology and palynology slides which are available for examination.

A binocular microscope and other sample examination aids are available if requested.

Laboratory
Our laboratory can be used to prepare and study samples. We also have a rock saw that can be used to sample conventional core that was acquired during offshore drilling. Individuals who wish to use this space have access to onsite staff expertise and laboratory equipment.

If you are interested in sampling our materials, we ask you to send us a request by email to info@cnsoer.ca and outline why you wish to sample the material and the type of study you will be conducting. If we provide permission to sample the material, the size of the sample that can be provided will be determined based on the amount we have available and the nature of your study. All unused samples must be returned to us along with a copy of the results of your study.

Did you know? We also curate offshore geoscientific information from outside of our jurisdiction. We house information on the Hudson Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Prince Edward Island on behalf of the Canada Energy Regulator.