Rights Issuance

While the Northern Oil and Gas Branch is responsible for issuance of Exploration licences, Significant Discovery Licences and Production Licences, the majority of our current work focuses on the issuance and administration of Exploration Licenses.

The department provides industry with an annual opportunity to obtain exploration rights in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the northern offshore. The exploration rights are issued pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act following the process of:

1. Expression of Interest by communities and industry.
2. Request for input from communities and other government agencies and departments.
3. Call for Nominations (A Call for Nominations precedes each Call for Bids. The Call for Nominations enables industry to specify blocks of land of interest for subsequent inclusion in a Call for Bids.)
4. Call for Bids
5. Issuance and management of Licence.