The Subsurface Energy R&D Investment Program (SERDIP or Program) is a provincial initiative designed to understand the potential to explore Nova Scotia’s onshore hydrocarbon resources while ensuring environmental stewardship and transparency. The program aims to enhance geological knowledge and assess resource viability and extraction. 

The Program will offer financial incentives (Appendix E) to operators to explore Nova Scotia’s petroleum potential as part of a controlled research initiative. This work will advance scientific understanding of subsurface geology and modern drilling and stimulation technologies applied in the Nova Scotia environment, helping shape future energy policy and economic development.

Ideal applicants would be capable of commencing exploratory drilling in 2027. The Province of Nova Scotia (the “Province”) recognizes the accelerated nature of this schedule and is committed to expediting its internal review and approval processes wherever reasonably possible. At the same time, the Province and operators will continue to comply with all applicable safety, regulatory, and governance requirements (Petroleum Resources Act (Energy). The Province may consider reasonable adjustments to project timelines as part of subsequent discussions with proponents. Any such considerations would be addressed on a case-by-case basis and would be subject to mutual agreement. 

Successful proponents identified during the second Call for Participation will negotiate a Petroleum Exploration Agreement with the Province of Nova Scotia, giving the proponent the exclusive right to explore for and produce oil and gas from the agreed to lands for a 3-year term (renewable up to twice for a total of 9 years). 
 

Please Note: To ensure the latest information and updates regarding this bid, the onus is on the bidder to ensure they are monitoring the bidding system for issued addenda, clarifications and instructions that may impact submissions.