Terms of Reference

Review of Drill Release Risk Assessments for Exploration Drilling Projects proposed by BHP Canada (Orphan Basin Region) and Chevron Canada Limited (West Flemish Pass)

Regional Science Response Process - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

April 29, 2020
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Sara Lewis

Context

Two oil and gas proponents have proposed to carry out exploratory drilling in the Newfoundland Region. Specifically, BHP Canada proposes to conduct its work in the Orphan Basin Region, located approximately 350 km northeast of St. John’s, NL and northwest of the Flemish Pass. Chevron Canada Limited is proposing to carry out exploratory drilling in West Flemish Pass, located approximately 500 km northeast of St. John’s, NL including portions of the northern Flemish Pass and northwestern Flemish Cap. Both companies have submitted Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) for review, who subsequently submitted these documents to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP). FFHPP requested that DFO Science conduct a technical review of the Drill Release Risk Assessments, which are Appendices of the EIS documents.

In accordance with the legislative provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012), DFO is required to provide specialist or expert information or knowledge, pertaining to the Department’s mandate, with respect to a designated project that is subject to an environmental assessment. FFHPP is requesting that Science undertake a review of the project-specific drill cutting dispersion modelling.

The submission consists of two documents:

1. Appendix D – BHP Canada Orphan Basin Region Exploration Drilling Project (2019-2028) Drill Release Risk Assessment.
2. Appendix C - Chevron Canada Limited West Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project (2021-2030) Drill Release Risk Assessment.

As the Drill Release Risk Assessments for both of these projects were carried out by the same professional consulting firm (RPS), and the methodologies and analyses were very similar, it was determined that a single Science Response Process would be conducted to review both projects.

Objectives

The objective of the Science Response Process is to provide project-specific science advice on the following:

• Is the information provided in the report complete and based on the most recent information available?
• Conduct a review on the scientific merit of the information presented and determine if it adequately describes the assumptions that are made, as well as the present state of knowledge. Are the proponent’s methodologies and conclusions valid?

The findings of the SRP will assist in formulating a departmental response on the EIS documents that will be submitted to the Agency.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Science, NL Region
• DFO Science, Maritimes Region
• DFO Ecosystems Management Branch, NL Region