On 2 May 2020, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) officially awarded ExxonMobil Canada and partners Equinor Canada and Suncor Energy offshore deepwater block EL 1165 located in the Flemish Pass Basin. EL 1165 consist of 4,125.8 sq km.  The award was the result of combining two existing exploration licenses EL 1134 and EL 1135 into the new EL 1165. EL 1165 is segregated as EL 1165 A (1,464.41 sq km) and EL 1165 B (2,661.39 sq km). The award carried a work commitment of CAD 572,633,931.84. The amount is a combination for the remaining work commitment of the two now relinquished blocks.  EL 1165 will carry a three-year term divided into two periods, Period I which will expire 15 January 2023 and Period II which expires 15 January 2024. Additionally, the company is required to post a security deposit equivalent to 25% of the total work commitment. In order to extend the contract into Period II the company must drill a total of four exploration wells. Two wells have been drilled on the contract which includes the Harp L-42 drilled in the previous block EL 1135 and the Hampden K-41 drilled in EL 1134. This leaves two additional wells to be drilled in the block to validate for Period II. As with all exploration licenses in Newfoundland and Labrador Period I may be extended by an additional year by the company posting a CAD 15-million drilling deposit.  Background Information  EL 1134     In January 2013 Husky Energy and partners Repsol and Suncor were officially awarded Parcel 1 as EL 1134 (2,088.99 sq km) by the Canada-Newfoundland & Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) from Call for Bids NL12-02 for a work commitment bid of CAD 57,393,786.00.      In February 2018, ExxonMobil Canada acquired Husky Oil Operations Ltd 65% working interest and operatorship of the exploration license. Repsol had previously left the group surrendering its working interest to Husky.     In January 2019 ExxonMobil acquired Suncorâs 35% working in the block leaving ExxonMobil Canada as the sole owner of rights to the block.     Relinquished May 2020.   EL 1135    In January 2013, Contract awarded to Husky 40%, Suncor 35% and Repsol 25%.      In February 2016, Repsol left the group surrendering its working interest to Husky.      In February 2018, ExxonMobil Canada acquired Husky Oil Operations Ltd 65% working interest and operatorship of the exploration license.      In January 2019, ExxonMobil acquired Suncorâs 35% working in the block leaving ExxonMobil Canada as the sole owner of rights to the block and received a 1-year extension on the block which was scheduled to expire in mid-January.      Relinquished May 2020   Previous Drilling    EL 1135 - In 1979 Esso drilled the Gabriel C-60 to a total depth of 5,171 m targeting multiple sandstones plays from Cretaceous to Jurassic age. The well was plugged and abandoned with gas shows in the Cretaceous age Hibernia Formation.      EL 1135 - In 1986 Esso drilled the Kyle L-11 to a total depth of 4,200 m targeting multiple sandstones plays from Cretaceous to Jurassic age. The well was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.     EL 1134 - In 2003 Petro-Canada drilled the Tuckamore B-27 to a total depth of 2,903 m targeting sanstones in the Jeanne d'Arc Formation. The well was plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.
Exxon Mobil Corp awarded EL 1165 which resulted from a combination of EL 1134 and EL 1135