Pursuant to the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations the Regulator has authority to grant a well approval if the operator demonstrates that the operations for that well will be conducted safely; without waste and without pollution, in compliance with those regulations.

Well approval requests may be submitted for a new or existing well using an Application for Approval to Drill a Well (ADW) or an Application for Approval to Alter the Condition of a Well (ACW). Once a well has been completed or suspended/abandoned, a Well Termination Record is submitted.

The responsibilities of the Well Operations Team include:

• Assessing design and operational aspects of well applications to verify compliance with regulations with a focus on well integrity, well control, and good industry practice.
• Monitoring the progress of approved well operations to verify regulatory compliance.
• Participating in compliance verification activities of offshore well operations.
• Collaboratively engage with other regulatory agencies to ensure lessons learned and best practices are shares across jurisdictions.