Oil and Gas

McInnes Cooper lawyers have an unmatched breadth of experience with oil and gas issues in Atlantic Canada, covering issues from rights acquisition and enforcement, through commercial agreements, into development projects, on to production, and finally in decommissioning of offshore infrastructure. We act for operators, interest owners, major contractors, suppliers, and small and medium size enterprises participating in the oil and gas plays offshore and onshore Atlantic Canada. Our team understands the oil and gas industry and has been active in its development in areas across Canada and internationally, but with special emphasis on offshore projects, shale gas, western Newfoundland and the arctic.

Our experience in upstream oil and gas work includes the drafting and negotiation of purchase and sale, joint venture, farm-in, royalty and rights of first refusal agreements. Acting for operators and major contractors we have undertaken the full range of project related work, including greenfield construction, licensing, and commercial issues. Once operations start we have extensive experience in helping improve and protect profitability, whether a concern is commercial, labour related or involves dispute resolution.

We have represented the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) in litigation dealing with the confidentiality of seismic information. In a recent decision, Geophysical Service Inc. v. Canada, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia quoted with approval Mike Simms and Van Penick’s article on this subject.

We have extensively analyzed and litigated issues relating to licensing rights, the confidentiality of exploration data, and statutory obligations under the various Accord Acts. We have represented clients in hearings before the Oil and Gas Committee, courts and domestic or international commercial arbitration panels under the Accord Acts and relevant provincial or other Federal legislation.

If you need help in navigating the issues that arise at every stage of oil and gas developments, call us.