North / Offshore

Notice: On 1 April 2014, the Government of the Northwest Territories assumes responsibility for the regulation of onshore oil and gas activities in the NWT outside of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and the Norman Wells Proven Area and other miscellaneous federal lands. More information and a link to the Service Agreement can be found on our website under North / Offshore > NEB Regulatory Oversight in NWT Post-Devolution.

The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) has regulatory responsibilities for oil and gas exploration and activities on frontier lands not otherwise regulated under joint federal/provincial accords. Regulatory responsibilities are under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act and certain provisions of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act are administered to Nunavut, Arctic offshore, Hudson Bay, West Coast offshore, Gulf of St. Lawrence, a portion of the Bay of Fundy and onshore Sable Island.

Prior to any work being initiated, authorization from the NEB is required. Operators must contact the Chief Conservation Officer at the Board to seek approval. Technical forms, guidance notes, reports and statistics can be found through the right side column listings. The Board's mandate also includes exchange of technical knowledge with the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and Natural Resources Canada.

The Board also has certain regulatory responsibilities under the Northern Pipeline Act with respect to the Yukon portion of the proposed Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline. The Northern Pipeline Agency has held primary responsibility for overseeing the planning and construction of the project since the Northern Pipeline Act was passed in 1978.

Lands having NEB jurisdiction over oil and gas activities