Declared Discoveries

When an operator explores the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area, they’re in search of significant petroleum resources for the purpose of production. Discoveries made by 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 Call for Bids process. We may increase, decrease or revoke the significant discovery area, based on the results of further drilling.

Declared Commercial Discoveries

After a discovery has been made, the explorer 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 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 Call for Bids process. We may increase, decrease or revoke the commercial discovery area, based on the results of further drilling.

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

Below is a table of declared 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 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

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

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

  COMMERCIAL DISCOVERY DESIGNATION EFFECTIVE DATE COMMERCIAL 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