Canada Oil and Gas Geophysical Operations Regulations (SOR/96-117)

Retention of Data

• 39 (1) Every operator shall, after completion of a geophysical operation, retain in Canada the following information and materials:

  • (a) seismic field data in digital format and a description of the data format, together with all supporting information;

  • (b) fully processed, migrated seismic data in digital format;

  • (c) in the case of a magnetic survey, the final digital field data, field analog monitors, diurnal charts, altitude profiles, and all other supporting information;

  • (d) in the case of a gravimetric survey, the location, elevation, final digital field data, and gravity profiles;

  • (e) in the case of seabed investigations at well-sites, all sidescan sonar records and mosaics, fathometer records, sub-bottom profile records, grab samples, cores, and seabed photographs; and

  • (f) all other observations or readings that were obtained during the field operation.

• (2) No person shall destroy or discard any information or material referred to in subsection (1) after the period referred to in subsection (4) unless the person has given the Chief Conservation Officer not less than 60 days’ notice of that intention and, if so requested within the notice period, has given the Chief Conservation Officer the information or material or a copy thereof.

• (3) The Chief Conservation Officer may require an operator to supply the information and materials referred to in subsection (1), in a form approved by the Chief Conservation Officer.

• (4) Subject to subsection (6), no person shall destroy, discard or remove from Canada any of the information or material referred to in subsection (1) within 15 years after the completion of the geophysical operation without the written approval of the Chief Conservation Officer.

• (5) Where fewer than 15 years have elapsed since the completion of the geophysical operation, the Chief Conservation Officer shall approve the destruction, discarding or removal from Canada of any of the information or material referred to in subsection (1) if the Chief Conservation Officer is satisfied that the information or material is not of any significant use or value.

• (6) Information or material referred to in subsection (1) may be removed from Canada without the approval of the Chief Conservation Officer for the purpose of being processed in a foreign country, provided that the information or material is returned to Canada as soon as the processing is complete.

• (7) Every operator shall retain in Canada on reproducible film the most recent fully processed, migrated seismic sections of the geophysical operation and shall not destroy that film or remove it from Canada without the written approval of the Chief Conservation Officer.

• (8) The Chief Conservation Officer shall approve the destruction or removal from Canada of the most recent fully processed, migrated seismic sections on reproducible film if the Chief Conservation Officer is satisfied that a copy of the film has been retained in Canada or the film is not of any significant use or value in Canada.

PART VI accidents

Reports

40 Every operator shall inform the Chief Conservation Officer and the Chief Safety Officer immediately, by the most rapid and practical means, of any serious accident or incident that occurs during a geophysical operation and that causes injury to or loss of life of any person, or damage to property, or that constitutes a threat to the environment.

Investigation

41 The Chief Conservation Officer and Chief Safety Officer may investigate any accident or incident that occurs during a geophysical operation and that

• (a) involves the death of or injury to any person;

• (b) causes significant damage to or failure of geophysical equipment; or

• (c) results in pollution or other damage to the environment.