| Department of Energy
Petroleum Exploration Agreement (Onshore)
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| Who Needs This Approval? |
| | Anyone who wants an exclusive right to explore for petroleum (oil and gas) on the designated Agreement Lands (subsurface only) in Nova Scotia. It also provides an exclusive right to apply for a Petroleum Production Agreement over those lands.
Note: This does not apply to offshore exploration. |
| Issuing Department / Agency:
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| | N.S. Department of Energy |
| Where can you get this Approval
and / or further information? |
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Manager, Petroleum Resources
N.S. Department of Energy
Bank of Montreal Building, Suite 400
5151 George Street
PO Box 2664
Halifax, NS B3J 3P7
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Tel: (902) 424-7146
Fax: (902) 424-0528
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| Application Forms & Process:
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| | An application form (Form C, "Application for Petroleum Exploration Agreement") can be obtained from Manager, Petroleum Resources, N.S. Department of Energy. When completed, it is submitted to the same office, along with a applicable fees.
If all requirements are met, and the application is approved, the applicant will be notified in writing following a decision by the N.S. Minister of Energy.
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| Waiting Period: |
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90 days, provided that all the items that must accompany the application have been received. |
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| Expiry & Renewal: |
| | This agreement is valid for 3 years from the date it is issued. It is renewable where the agreement holder has complied with all the statutory and contractual provisions of the exploration agreement, and the renewal time is set by the Minister of the N.S. Department of Energy. The renewal process is started by the Department, which will send a renewal form to the agreement holder before it expires. |
| Price: (tax is included)
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| |
Initial Application and Annual Renewal: $1089.11 plus rental of $0.13 per hectare per year
Note: The applicant may be required to furnish bonds to ensure performance of obligations under the Act, regulations, and the Petroleum Exploration Agreement. These are to ensure the work is done and to provide for site restoration. |
| Related Requirements: |
| |
- Crown Lands: Right-of-Way Agreement, N.S. Department of Natural Resources;
- Industrial Plant / Facilities Approval, N.S. Department of Environment;
- If 3 or more workers are employed, N.S. Workers' Compensation Board Registration.
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| Additional Information: |
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- An Exploration Agreement is usually issued following a competitive Call for Proposals process. The Call must be open a minimum of 60 days and is usually open longer.
- Exploration Agreements are usually issued for a 3 year term and have a work program which must be carried out if the Agreement holder wishes to retain rights to the land. This usually requires the drilling of at least one exploration well.
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| Legislative Authority: |
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Petroleum Resources Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, Chapter 3-12, Section 14 and Petroleum Resources Regulations |
