COASTAL NEWS
EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF BC's OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Harmony Platform Offshore California
Over the last decade, attention has returned to the potential of BC’s offshore oil and gas reserves. Responding to the
downturn of the traditional resource economic on the coast, local leaders in a number of British Columbia’s northern coastal
communities have championed the cause, lobbying for the removal of the federal and provincial moratoria on offshore development
that have halted exploration for over 15 years. On the flip side, environmental organizations, fisheries groups and some of BC’s
coastal First Nations have come out strongly in opposition to the proposal.
In March of 2004, I had the opportunity to weigh in on the issue in my address to the 2nd Annual Conference
on Pacific Canada & North Coast Offshore Oil and Gas Development, held in Vancouver. (Click here to read the full text of
my speech, “BC Uncharted Waters”.)
Citing my experience as the federal minister responsible for negotiating the Atlantic Accord and as a consultant working on the
Mackenzie Valley pipeline, I warned policy makers not to build expectations in coastal communities by promoting unrealistic offshore
development timetables. Stages of activity prior to first production include seismic surveys and other exploration activities,
exploration drilling, delineation drilling, production, and decommissioning. The starting point for any development in BC’s
offshore is at least 15 to 20 years away.
Newfoundland's Hibernia
More to the point, we don’t know what’s out there. The Geological Survey of Canada suggests there may be 1.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 28 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas offshore BC. To date, however, no confirmed accumulation of oil and gas has been discovered.
From my perspective the key to the success of any offshore hydrocarbon development in British Columbia is the engagement of all stakeholders, particularly coastal communities and First Nations. I believe that the provincial and federal governments need to take a precautionary approach to offshore development, providing communities with information on an ongoing basis, and allowing them to engage with the process in a way that is in everyone’s interest.
For more information about the offshore in BC, its history, and where it stands now, please see the following links:
BC Offshore Oil and Gas Team
Energy BC
Ocean Industries BC
The Oil Free Coast