The Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Rex Gibbons, today announced that International Exploration Consultants (Canada) Inc. (IEXCO) will acquire 54 km of vibroseis seismic data in the Bay of Islands/Humber Arm area. The seismic survey will start in Bottle Cove, run east along highway 450 to the Trans Canada Highway and terminate near Shellbird Island. This seismic line is a continuation of the program that IEXCO started in the Port aux Port/Stephenville area in November. The seismic crew, which is presently operating near Bellburns on the Great Northern Peninsula, will move to the Bay of Islands around January 20 and take an estimated two weeks to complete the line.

"I am encouraged to see IEXCO continue its exploration survey into the Bay of Islands area," the minister said. "To date, exploration has been mainly focused in the Port au Port and Parsons Pond areas. The Request for Bids I announced on November 23, 1995, is providing an opportunity and incentive for companies to look at other areas. I am optimistic that we will see further exploration activity before the March 22 closing date".

Contact: Dave Hawkins, Director, Petroleum Resource Development, Department of Natural Resources, (709) 729-2323.