Natural Resources
August 13, 2013
Hydraulic fracturing and existing regulations and guidelines in other oil-producing jurisdictions in Western Canada was the focus of a trip to Saskatchewan last week conducted by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Natural Resources.
“As I committed to during the spring session of the House of Assembly, I travelled to Western Canada to gain greater insight into the process itself and to see firsthand how hydraulic fracturing operations are regulated,” said Minister Marshall. “This trip was an opportunity to speak with government officials, the provincial regulator and industry stakeholders who are familiar with these operations.”
While in Saskatchewan, the minister met with officials from the Ministry of the Economy and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Division, the province’s oil and gas regulator. The minister also participated in a guided field tour of Crescent Point Energy’s Bakken oil resource play facilities. Crescent Point Energy is an unconventional oil and gas producer in Southern Saskatchewan and is a member of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
There is no hydraulic fracturing occurring on the province’s west coast or in any area of Newfoundland and Labrador. Officials in the Department of Natural Resources are working closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to ensure that any programs proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing during the early stages of exploration are properly assessed to determine whether specific terms and conditions should be attached.
“The oil and gas industry is one of the largest contributors to the provincial economy which is similar to Saskatchewan’s economy and we support responsible resource exploration and development,” said Minister Marshall. “Economic development is important to sustain the level of growth and prosperity we are seeing in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are determined to ensure responsible and sustainable resource development with a robust regulatory regime that provides for the protection of the environment and the health and safety of the people of our province.”
Photo:
The Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Natural Resources, stands in a canola field with a pumpjack producing oil at a well in southeast Saskatchewan. The process of hydraulic fracturing has been used there for decades to extract oil from shale rock formations underground.
Media contact:
Diana Quinton
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 631-8155
dianaquinton@gov.nl.ca
2013 08 13
11:45 a.m.