Bay du Nord is a deepwater oil development located in the Flemish Pass Basin of the Atlantic Ocean offshore Canada.
The project involves the development of the Bay du Nord prospect along with the nearby Cambriol, Cappahayden, Harpoon and Baccalieu discoveries.
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The project is co-owned by Equinor (60%, operator) and bp (40%) and is estimated to require initial capital of around C$14bn ($10.26bn).
In April 2022, the federal government accepted the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, allowing the development to move forward.
The final investment decision (FID) for the Bay du Nord project is anticipated in 2027, with first oil targeted for 2031.
Project location and reserves
The Bay du Nord project is located approximately 500km east-north-east of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the north-west Atlantic, and lies outside Canada’s 200-mile (322km) Exclusive Economic Zone.
The broader project area covers around 4,900km2 in water depths of roughly 340 (1,115.5ft)–1,200m across the Newfoundland Slope and Flemish Pass.
The core development area, which encompasses the Bay du Nord and Baccalieu discoveries, spans approximately 470km² and is primarily located in water depths of around 1,000–1,200m, with additional space reserved for potential tie-backs beyond the core area.
The Bay du Nord project is estimated to contain reserves of more than 400 million barrels of oil under the initial phase of development.
Bay du Nord discovery and appraisal
Bay du Nord was discovered in 2013, while Baccalieu was discovered in 2016, around 15km from Bay du Nord. Cappahayden and Cambriol were discovered in 2020 in water depths of approximately 1,100m. All the discoveries lie within roughly 10–20km of each other.
Equinor (previously Statoil) announced the Bay du Nord discovery in August 2013, following an earlier discovery at Harpoon in June 2013, around 10km away. Both wells were drilled by the West Aquarius semi-submersible rig in approximately 1,100m of water.
A sidetrack was drilled for Bay du Nord in September 2013, which further confirmed the find. The Bay du Nord well encountered 34° API light oil in Jurassic reservoirs described as having strong porosity and permeability.
In June 2016, Statoil and its partners completed a 19-month exploration drilling campaign aimed at strengthening the development case and testing additional parts of the basin.
The Seadrill West Hercules drilled nine wells, including a mix of exploration and appraisal activity around Bay du Nord, as well as wells outside the discovery area. The campaign delivered oil discoveries at Bay de Verde and Baccalieu, adding to the resource base.
Bay du Nord project development plan
The Bay du Nord field concept is planned as a phased subsea development tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
Plans for the core area include drilling up to 40 wells, with potential for a further 20 wells in later phases, combining production and injection.
The core development will use between three and ten subsea well templates, while future areas could add one to five templates connected either to the FPSO or to existing template infrastructure.
The initial infrastructure will create options for future subsea tie-backs, which could help sustain offshore activity in the region over time.
The produced oil will be carried by shuttle tanker and transferred either at the existing Whiffen Head transhipment terminal on Newfoundland or shipped straight to overseas markets.
The produced gas is intended to be used at the field, with a smaller share used for onboard power generation and most recompressed and reinjected for pressure support, with no routine flaring planned.
Once operations commence, the project is expected to have a production capacity of up to 175,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The Newfoundland and Labrador Government reached agreements with Equinor and bp in March 2026 covering life-of-field benefits, royalties and an equity option. The package includes commitments linked to in-province work and skills development, alongside funding for fabrication, research and development, and professional services.
The province indicated that it planned to use part of the fabrication funding to help secure capital for a floating dry dock at Bull Arm, estimated at around 7,000–8,000t.
The province also stated that the first phase could deliver direct revenues of up to C$6.4bn ($4.68bn), while supporting employment across construction, drilling, logistics, long-term maintenance, marine services and subsea fabrication.
Bay du Nord FPSO details
The Bay du Nord FPSO is intended to operate in sub-Arctic conditions and is expected to be configured for output of up to 160,000bpd.
The design includes a disconnectable turret and extensive winterisation. The topsides will incorporate measures aimed at reducing emissions, including high-efficiency power generation and heat recovery, variable speed drives and a closed flare system. The FPSO is also being planned to allow for future tie-backs.
Contractors involved
BW Offshore signed a head of agreement with Equinor Canada in September 2025 after being selected as the preferred bidder for the FPSO, with a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract signed in April 2026.
The FEED work is expected to continue through the end of 2026, focusing on design maturity, execution planning and schedule definition, and progressing commercial alignment including the selection of key subcontractors and vendors.
A local content plan is also expected to be developed in line with the frame agreement and the Atlantic Accord.
In May 2026, a collaboration agreement was signed between Equinor and the Subsea Integration Alliance, which includes Subsea7 and OneSubsea. The collaboration enables early joint concept studies for Bay du Nord and the Wisting field offshore Norway.
Under the deal, any engineering, procurement, construction and installation work packages that arise, if an FID is taken, will be awarded directly to the Alliance.
