April marks the beginning of a new era in northern Canadian oil and gas exploration. That's when the government of the Northwest Territories takes over responsibility for managing its land and resources from the federal government. Companies prospecting in the Canol oil shales in the Central Mackenzie Valley are hoping the change leads to a more streamlined and efficient regulatory system. In a Daily Oil Bulletin report, several northern oil and gas explorers lament that the current approach is plagued by drawn-out reviews and unnecessary environmental assessments. Husky Oil Operations Ltd. recently submitted to drill a four-well program. But applying to drill just a few wells per year seems to overwhelm the regulatory process, according to Ken Hansen, a project manager at Husky's operations in Slater River, N.W.T.
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