Overview

Expressions of Interest, although not required by law, give oil and gas exploration companies and communities the opportunity to identify blocks of land they would like to see posted for bidding.

All nominations received through this process are given full consideration for inclusion in a possible Call for Bids.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has an “open call” process, which allows companies and communities interested in potentially securing oil and gas rights in the Northwest Territories to submit an Expression of Interest for petroleum lands in the onshore regions of the territories.

This is similar to the processes administered in other Canadian jurisdictions, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon.

A map illustrating the open areas for expression of interest for all of the Northwest Territories, the unconstrained hydrocarbon potential areas, can be downloaded from the Open Areas for Expression of Interest page on the Oil and Gas GIS Data web page here: https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/services/oil-and-gas-gis-data/current-areas-expressions-interest.  More detailed maps are also made for the four expression of interest regions described below.

Expression of Interest Regions

• Mackenzie Delta
• Central Mackenzie Valley
• Liard Basin
• Cameron Hills

Mackenzie Delta

The Mackenzie Delta is the northernmost current area for expression of interest for oil and gas in the Northwest Territories. All current areas open for expression of interest are shown on the most recent version of the Open Areas for Expression of Interest in the Mackenzie Delta Map on the following page https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/services/oil-and-gas-gis-data/current-areas-expressions-interest.

Map

A map of the region of the Mackenzie Delta, depicting current oil and gas interests is below. Petroleum lands that are not already licensed, have no protected areas, interim land withdrawals or land use zoning that do not permit hydrocarbon exploration, development or transportation of hydrocarbons are available for expression of interest. The region includes lands in the Invialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area and the Sahtu Dene and Metis Settlement Area.

Central Mackenzie Valley

The Central Mackenzie Valley expression of interest region is located in the central Northwest Territories. All current areas open for expression of interest are shown on the most recent version of the Open Areas for Expression of Interest in the Central Mackenzie Valley Map on the following page https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/services/oil-and-gas-gis-data/current-areas-expressions-interest.

Map

A map of the region of the Central Mackenzie Valley, depicting current oil and gas dispositions is below. Petroleum lands that are not already licensed, have no protected areas, interim land withdrawals or land use zoning that do not permit hydrocarbon exploration, development or transportation of hydrocarbons are available for expression of interest. The region includes lands covered by the Sahtu Dene and Metis Settlement Area.

Liard Basin

The Liard Basin expression of interest region is located in the southwest corner of the Northwest Territories along the border with British Columbia. All current areas open for expression of interest are shown on the most recent version of the Open Areas for Expression of Interest within the Liard Basin Map on the following page https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/services/oil-and-gas-gis-data/current-areas-expressions-interest.

Map

A map of the region of the Central Mackenzie Valley, depicting current oil and gas dispositions is below. Petroleum lands that are not already licensed, have no protected areas, interim land withdrawals or land use zoning that do not permit hydrocarbon exploration, development or transportation of hydrocarbons are available for expression of interest. The region includes lands covered by the Sahtu Dene and Metis Settlement Area.

Cameron Hills

The Cameron Hills expression of interest region is located in the south eastern portion of the Northwest Territories along the border with Alberta. All current areas open for expression of interest are shown on the most recent version of the Open Areas for Expression of Interest within Cameron Hills Map on the following page https://www.iti.gov.nt.ca/en/services/oil-and-gas-gis-data/current-areas-expressions-interest.

Map

A map of the region of the Central Mackenzie Valley, depicting current oil and gas dispositions is below. Petroleum lands that are not already licensed, have no protected areas, interim land withdrawals or land use zoning that do not permit hydrocarbon exploration, development or transportation of hydrocarbons are available for expression of interest. The region includes lands covered by Tłı̨chǫ Settlement Lands.

The four documents below reflect the 2014 Call for Nominations process as historical reference.