Nova Scotia Impresses At Offshore Technologies Conference
Nova Scotia is a great place to invest and to look for oil and gas. A delegation from government and business took that message to the Offshore Technologies Conference this week in Houston, Texas.
"The messages we received and delivered at the conference were loud and clear -- North America needs oil and gas from Nova Scotia and we're more ready than ever to deliver," said Energy Minister Cecil Clarke.
"We've been meeting with industry this past few weeks in both Calgary and Houston and they're responding very positively to our message," said Mr. Clarke. "I believe we'll see an upswing in offshore-related activity over the next year. I'm extremely encouraged by this week's conference and I believe the whole Nova Scotia delegation is buoyed by the response we've received in Houston this week."
Speaking at various conference events, Mr. Clarke told business and industry leaders that Nova Scotia's approach to offshore regulation had been through major improvements. He also announced that the province will be proposing consolidation of work commitments on exploration leases as a way to encourage companies to drill more wells. Consolidation will allow exploration licence holders to consolidate exploration commitments from their own licences and other licensees.
The overall work commitments will remain the same, but drilling can now be more focused in areas that experience has shown to hold the most promise.
Mr. Clarke led a delegation of 31 companies from the Offshore- Onshore Technology Association of Nova Scotia (OTANS), who were accompanied by Department of Energy staff. "We went to Houston to tell the international oil and gas industry that Nova Scotia is open for business in the oil and gas sector and ready to respond to industry's needs anywhere in the world."
Tom Hickey, chair of OTANS, agreed. "The Offshore Technologies Conference delegation this year had two objectives -- to reinvigorate investment in exploration and to reintroduce Nova Scotia expertise to the international industry," he said. "I think we can say the mission has been accomplished."
Halifax-based EC Industries signed a contract with a Danish company, ESVAGT, to produce and distribute the ESVAGT Safe Personnel Transfer Basket in North America markets. The device is used to remove people from offshore installations in an emergency.
"EC Industries has been targeting opportunities for service offerings to our oil, gas and marine customers. We are very excited about this agreement with ESVAGT as this product complements our commitment to fabrication excellence and safety services," said Sean Leet, president of EC Industries.
Other companies are expected to announce agreements as they return to Nova Scotia.
The Offshore Technologies Conference is held every year in Houston and is the world's largest offshore development conference.