The Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia (OERA) and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for research cooperation regarding the petroleum resource potential of offshore Nova Scotia and Morocco.
Recognizing the geological history going back 200 million years ago when Nova Scotia and Morocco were joined as one land mass, there is much to learn about offshore resource potential by studying both regimes to support this objective. The parties agreed that a comparative study of petroleum systems along both coastal margins will provide direct benefit to Morocco and Nova Scotia. The study will compare recently collected seismic and geochemical data to better characterize the common geological elements of the Scotian and Moroccan conjugate margins. The work will allow a more comprehensive integration of scientific and exploration-related results on either side of the Atlantic.
Collaboration may occur through joint research and development projects, workshops, seminars and technology exchange. The MoU encourages data sharing, networking and exchange of technical expertise, which will help build bilateral cooperation between Morocco and Nova Scotia and lower investment risk in Nova Scotia and Morocco’s offshore energy sector.
Russell Dmytriw, Director of Research at OERA remarked “the MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between Canada and Morocco in the field of petroleum geoscience. This in turn will help Nova Scotia and Morocco meet their energy needs and growth aspirations, which is consistent with the province’s strategy for building a resilient and relevant energy portfolio.”
The announcement of the signing of the MoU is timely as ONHYM representatives are in Halifax for the 2018 Conjugate Margins Conference (August 19-22, 2018). The Conference is an independently organized, biennial scientific meeting focused on improving knowledge on the geological evolution and petroleum prospectively of divergent Atlantic margin basins.