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Beluga waters opened Canada calls for bids on Beaufort, Mackenzie parcels involving 386,344 acres Petroleum News
The Oil and Gas Management Directorate of Canada’s Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development issued a call for bids Jan. 10 for two parcels of land in the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta of the Northwest Territories. The action opened to oil and gas development parts of protected beluga whale habitat in each area, which are considered gas-prone.
Bid closing is May 2, noon, Mountain Time.
Parcel MD-1 involves approximately 56,406 hectares (139,382 acres) and is located about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) west of Tuktoyaktuk.
MD-2 involves about 99,942 hectares (246,962 acres) and is off the northern coast of the Yukon.
The Canadian government is offering nine-year exploration licenses to the successful bidders, in consecutive terms of five and four years.
Between 20,000 and 40,000 beluga whales migrate into the area every summer. According to a CBC report, drilling is currently prohibited in the most sensitive areas, but is allowed with some restrictions in the surrounding waters, most of which are already leased.
Canadian officials say the country’s environmental screening processes will ensure explorers do not harm whale habitat.
“They have to be aware that it’s not full blown or 100 percent business as usual if they get a license in this area. There might be some specifics that will be asked of them. If the migratory route happens during a specific period of time, they won’t be allowed to pursue any activity during those months,” CBC quoted Richard Casey of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs as saying. The federal department Casey works for is responsible for the management of oil and gas resources north of 600 latitude offshore and in all of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Environmentalists question action The move to lease the acreage has environmentalists concerned.
CBC quoted Peter Ewins of the World Wildlife Fund as saying, “The federal government is clearly continuing to respond to the pressure of the oil and gas sector to accelerate finds in the Mackenzie Delta-Beaufort region. And that’s all well and good if there were an adequate marine and land-based conservation plan in place. There is not.”
CBC said pressure is building on the beluga whale habitat in the Delta. One company, CBC reported, wants to “dredge through the protected area so it can move its gas production facility into the area.”
Up for bid within each parcel are the following: Parcel No. MD-1 Latitude Longitude Part
69o 40’ N 134o 45’ W sections 1, 11, 21, 31, 41
69o 40’ N 134o 30’ W section 51
69o 30’ N 134o 45’ W sections 4-10, 14-20, 24-30, 35-40, 45-50
69o 30’ N 134o 30’ W sections 1-7, 11-17, 21-27, 31-37, 41-47, 51-60
69o 30’ N 134o 15’ W sections 1-2, 11-12, 21-22, 31-32, 41-42, 47, 51-52, 56-57
69o 30’ N 134o 00’ W sections 21-22, 31-32, 41-42, 51-52
69o 20’ N 134o 15’ W sections 1-60
69o 20’ N 134o 00’ W sections 27-30, 37-40, 45-50, 51-60
Note: For sections 1, 11, 21, 31, 41 and 51, including only that portion lying north of the Inuvik 7(1)(a) land selection boundary. Parcel No. MD-2 Latitude Longitude Part
69o 30’ N 136o 30’ W sections 31-37, 41-49, 51-59
69o 30’ N 136o 45’ W sections 1-60
69o 30’ N 137o 00’ W sections 1-60
69o 30’ N 137o 15’ W sections 1-30, 39, 40, 49, 50, 59, 60
69o 40’ N 136o 45’ W sections 1, 11, 21-23, 31-33, 41-45, 51-55
69o 40’ N 137o 00’ W sections 1-7, 11-17, 21-29, 31-39, 41-60
69o 40’ N 137o 15’ W sections 1-60
69o 40’ N 137o 30’ W sections 5-10, 15-20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 35, 36, 40
For more information on how to submit bids contact the Oil and Gas Management Directorate at (819) 997-0877 or visit the agency’s Web site at www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/oil.
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