Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations (SOR/2024-26)

Marginal note:Contingency plan

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  11 (1) An operator must develop a contingency plan that sets out the procedures, including emergency response procedures, and the practices, resources and monitoring measures that are necessary to effectively prepare for and mitigate the effects of any accidental event.

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  Marginal note:Documents and information

  (2) The contingency plan must include the following documents and information:

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    (a) a description of the method to be used for classifying accidental events and a description of the emergency response procedures for each event;

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    (b) a description of the procedures for the internal and external reporting of accidental events;

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    (c) a description of the procedures for accessing safety-related and environmental information that is necessary to mitigate the effects of any accidental event;

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    (d) a description of the organizational structure, chain of command and resources for managing any accidental event, including

    • (i) a list of key emergency response positions and a description of the roles, responsibilities and authorities associated with each of those positions, including a description of related tasks and checklists of actions that must be taken in the context of the contingency plan,

    • (ii) a description of the available support craft and the contact information for its crew or a reference to the number or title of a document that provides that description and contact information,

    • (iii) a description, or a reference to the number or title of a document that provides the description, of available emergency response equipment, including life-saving appliances, and the equipment’s location, as well as the limits on its use and the mitigation measures to be taken in the event that it is not available,

    • (iv) a description, or a reference to a number or title of a document that provides the description, of all available medical equipment and the equipment’s location,

    • (v) a description of the communication system referred to in section 129 and the operating procedures for that system,

    • (vi) a description of all emergency response operations centres and their locations,

    • (vii) a description of any good or service that must be obtained on a contractual basis for each response measure, and

    • (viii) a description of the location and the contents of any temporary safe refuges or a reference to the number or title of a document that provides that description;

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    (e) details of all mutual aid agreements entered into with other operators;

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    (f) a description of the procedures for coordinating and liaising with all relevant emergency response organizations;

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    (g) a description of the communication protocols with all relevant federal, provincial, territorial and municipal agencies and Indigenous governing bodies;

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    (h) a copy of all personnel evacuation plans, including any evacuation plan for divers engaged in a dive; and

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    (i) an indication of the frequency with which emergency response drills and exercises are to be completed and their scope.

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  Marginal note:Uncontrolled flow

  (3) In the case of a drilling program or a production project, the contingency plan must also include a description of the source control and containment measures to be taken to stop uncontrolled flow from a well and to minimize the duration and environmental effects of any resulting spill, as well as the following documents and information:

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    (a) a description of the source control and containment equipment to be used in the event of a loss of well control;

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    (b) details of the contractual arrangements for the source control and containment equipment, other than a relief well drilling installation, including

    • (i) the name and contact information of the owner or owners of the equipment,

    • (ii) the arrangements for transport of the equipment to the location of the uncontrolled well, and

    • (iii) the arrangements for the mode of deployment of the equipment at the location of the uncontrolled well;

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    (c) the schedule and plan for the mobilization, deployment and operation of the source control and containment equipment, including measures to minimize deployment time that take required regulatory approvals into account;

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    (d) details regarding the accessibility of the source control and containment equipment and the documents and information referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c);

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    (e) an explanation of the adequacy of each of the source control and containment measures; and

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    (f) a description of any support systems and equipment that are available, including vessels and remotely operated vehicles and any consumables that may be used, such as, in the case of a relief well, a spare wellhead, spare casing and spare bulk additives.

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  Marginal note:Spill-treating agent

  (4) If a spill-treating agent is being considered for use as a spill response measure, the contingency plan must include the following additional documents and information:

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    (a) the name of the chosen spill-treating agent and details of an assessment of its efficacy in treating the potential sources of pollutants, including the results of any tests conducted for the assessment and a description of those tests;

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    (b) the results of an analysis that demonstrates that a net environmental benefit is likely to be achieved through the use of the spill-treating agent under certain circumstances;

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    (c) a description of the circumstances under which the spill-treating agent will be used and the estimated period within which its use will be effective;

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    (d) a description of the methods and protocols, including the amount and application rate, for safe, effective and efficient use of the spill-treating agent;

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    (e) a list of the personnel roles, equipment and materials that an operator will have available for the purpose of using the spill-treating agent, including any to be provided through contractual arrangements, and a description of the requirements that must be met for those contracts to be activated; and

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    (f) a monitoring plan for the use of the spill-treating agent.

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  Marginal note:Assessment of efficacy

  (5) The assessment of efficacy under paragraph (4)(a) must be carried out using oil obtained directly from the operations site where the spill-treating agent is being considered for use or, if oil is not available from that operations site, it must be carried out using an oil that most closely resembles the oil that is expected to be obtained from the operations site and must be repeated when oil becomes available from that operations site.

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  Marginal note:International standard or alternative

  (6) The assessment, analysis, methods and protocols referred to in paragraphs (4)(a), (b) and (d) must be based, taking the local environment into account, on an international standard or an alternative recognized by the Board and the contingency plan must identify each of those standards or alternatives.

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  Marginal note:Methods and protocols

  (7) The methods and protocols referred to in paragraph (4)(d) and the monitoring plan referred to in paragraph (4)(f) must conform to industry standards and best practices for spill-treating agent use, taking the local environment into account.

• The following provision is not in force.

  Marginal note:Definition of source control and containment equipment

  (8) In this section, source control and containment equipment means the capping stack, containment dome, any subsea and surface equipment, devices or vessels and any relief well drilling installations that are used to contain and control a spill source and to minimize the duration of a spill and its environmental effects until well control is regained.