An exploratory oil well drilled off the coast didn’t find the reserves the company was looking for.
Despite drilling to a depth of 7,400 metres, BP did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.
The company is now working to cap the well at their Aspy D-11 site on the Scotian Shelf.
Spokesperson for the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Sadie Toulany says this could be the first in a series of wells.
“The environmental assessment that was conducted considered the drilling of up to seven exploration wells in total. BP Canada could own its exploration license to a maximum date of up to January 14, 2022.”
A spokesperson from BP says they need to examine the data they’ve collected so far before deciding if they will proceed with further drilling.
Meanwhile, members of the Clean Ocean Action Committee aren’t hopeful oil companies will be leaving the Scotian Shelf any time soon.
John Davis says although it’s not looking promising for BP, he won’t be satisfied until government creates stronger oversight.
He says Statoil have plans to begin seismic testing this spring.
“So it’s not over. We still have a lot of issues. We’re going to continue to demand that they stop this stuff until we have functional regulatory oversight.”
BP has just under three years to explore six other lease sites.
Reported by: Ed Halverson and Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @edwardhalverson, @BrittWentzell
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca, wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
