Declared Discoveries

Declared Petroleum-Related Discoveries

When an oil and gas operator explores the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area, they’re in search of significant petroleum resources for the purpose of production. Discoveries made by oil and gas operators are either declared significant or commercial

Declared Significant Discoveries

After a discovery has been made, the operator may apply to have it declared a significant discovery. A significant discovery, through well flow testing, typically suggests the existence of oil or gas resources with the potential for sustained production.

If the significant discovery is declared over an exploration licence, an operator may then apply for a significant discovery licence. If the significant discovery is declared over crown reserve land where an exploration licence has not been granted, the significant discovery area can be nominated for a significant discovery licence through the petroleum-related Call for Bids process. We may increase, decrease or revoke the significant discovery area, based on the results of further drilling.

Learn more about the significant discovery areas that have been declared in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Below is a table of declared petroleum-related Significant Discovery areas. For a PDF of the Significant Discoveries offshore Canada-Nova Scotia, click here.

	Name & Discovery Well	Effective Date	Significant Discovery Area
1	Onondaga E-84 File Download	1985-09-11	43°50' N 60°00' W 73-76, 83-86, 93-96 43°50' N 60°15' W 3-5
2	West Sable Island E-48	1985-09-11	44°00' N 60°00' W 47-49, 57-59
3	Primrose N-50	1985-09-11	44°00'N 59°00' W 40, 50, 60 44°10'N 59°00' W 31, 41, 42, 51
4	Thebaud P-84	1985-09-11	44° 00' N 60° 00' W 63-65, 72-75, 82-85, 92-95 44° 00' N 60° 15' W 3, 4, 5
5	Cohasset D-42	1985-09-11	44° 00' N 60° 30' W 41, 42, 51, 52
6	Citnalta I-59	1985-09-11	44°10' N 59°30' W 38-40, 48-50, 58-60, 68-70
7	Intrepid L-80	1985-09-11	43° 50'N 59° 45' W 69, 70, 79, 80, 89, 90, 99, 100 44° 00' N 59°45' W 61-63, 71-73, 81, 82
8	East Point E-49	1985-09-11	46°40' N 61°30' W 17-20, 27-30, 37-40, 48-50, 58-60, 69-70, 79-80, 90 46°50' N 61°30' W 11, 12, 21, 22, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61-63, 71, 72, 81
9	Venture D-23	1985-09-11	44°10' N 59°15' W 82, 83, 92, 93, 94 44°10' N 59°30' W 2-4, 11-14, 21-24, 31-34, 41-44, 51-53, 61
10	Banquereau C-21	1985-09-11	44°10' N 58°30' W 20, 30, 40 44°20' N 58°15' W 82, 91, 92 44°20' N 58°30' W 1, 2, 11, 12, 21, 22, 31
11	South Venture O-59	1985-09-11	44°00' N 59°30' W 19, 20, 29, 30, 39, 40, 48-50, 58-60, 68-70, 79, 80
12	Olympia A-12	1985-09-11	44°10' N 59°30' W 92 44°10' N 59°45' W 1, 2, 11, 12, 21, 22, 31, 32
13	Arcadia J-16	1985-09-11	44°10' N 59°15' W 85-87, 95-97 44°10' N 59°30' W 5-7, 15-17, 25-27, 35-37
14	Glenelg J-48	1989-08-14	43°40' N 60°00' W 38-40, 47-50, 58-60, 68-70, 78-80
15	Uniacke G-72	1987-12-14	44°20' N 59°30' W 41, 51, 52, 61-63, 71-73, 81-83
16	Alma F-67	1987-02-09	43°40' N 60°30' W 37, 46-48, 55-58, 64-68, 74-77, 84-87, 95, 96
17	Chebucto K-90	1987-08-26	43°50' N 59°30' W 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72, 81, 82, 91 43°40' N 59°30' W 69, 70, 78-80, 88-90, 98-100
18	West Venture C-62	1985-09-11	44°10' N 59°30' W 62, 63, 71-73, 81, 82
19	West Venture N-91	1985-09-11	44°00' N 59°30' W 100 44°00' N 59°45' W 10, 20 44°10' N 59°30' W 91
20	West Olympia O-51	1987-08-26	44°00' N 59°45' W 70, 80, 90 44°10' N 59°45' W 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71
21	North Triumph G-43	1987-08-26	43°40' N 59°45' W 40, 50 43°50' N 59°45' W 11, 12, 21-23, 31-33, 41-43, 51-53, 61, 62, 71, 72, 81
22	South Sable B-44	1989-01-26	44°00' N 59°45' W 33, 34, 43, 44
23	Panuke B-90	1989-04-11	43° 50' N 60° 30' W 79, 80, 89, 90, 98-100 43° 50' N 60° 45' W 8-10, 18-20
24	Panuke PP-3C	2006-11-07	44° 00' N 60° 30' W 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 61, 71 43° 50' N 60° 30' W 50, 60, 69, 70, 79, 80, 89, 90, 97, 98, 99, 100 43° 50' N 60° 45' W 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18

Declared Commercial Discoveries

After a discovery has been made, the oil and gas operator may apply to have it declared a commercial discovery. A commercial discovery is one that has demonstrated it contains reserves that will justify the investment of capital and effort to bring the discovery to production.

If the commercial discovery is declared over an exploration licence or significant discovery licence, the oil and gas licence owner may then apply for a production licence. If the commercial discovery is declared over crown reserve land, the commercial discovery area can be nominated for a production licence through the petroleum-related Call for Bids process. We may increase, decrease or revoke the commercial discovery area, based on the results of further drilling.

Learn more about the commercial discoveries that have been declared in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

Below is a table of declared petroleum-related Commercial Discovery areas. For a PDF of the Commercial Discoveries offshore Canada-Nova Scotia, click here.

	Commercial Discovery Designation	Effective Date	Commerical Discovery Area
1	Cohasset	1990-11-02	44°00'N 60°30'W 41, 42, 51, 52
	Cohasset Amendment	1993-05-27	44°00'N 60°30'W 32, 33, 43
2	Panuke	1990-11-02	43°50'N 60°30'W 79, 80, 89, 90, 98-100 43°50'N 60°45'W 8-10, 18-20
3	Venture	1999-06-29	44°10'N 59°15'W 92, 93 44°10'N 59°30'W 2,3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 61
4	Thebaud	1999-06-29	44°00'N 60°00'W 64, 65, 72, 73, 74, 75, 82, 83, 84, 85, 93, 94, 95
5	North Triumph	1999-06-29	43°50'N 59°45'W 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 61, 62
6	Alma	2001-10-19	43°40’N 60°30’W 47, 55, 56, 57, 65, 66, 67, 75, 76, 77, 85, 86, 95, 96
7	South Venture	2004-07-06	44°00' N 59°30' W 20, 29, 30, 39, 40, 49, 50, 59, 60, 69, 70, 79, 80 44°10' N 59°30' W 11, 21, 31, 41, 51
8	Deep Panuke	2009-06-30	44° 00' N 60° 30' W 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 61 43° 50' N 60° 30' W 50, 60, 69, 70, 79, 80, 89, 90, 97, 98, 99 43° 50' N 60° 45' W 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17