Annual Exploration, Development and Capital Expenditures Survey: Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry - Preliminary Estimate for 2024 and Intentions for 2025

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects data on capital expenditures in Canada. The information is used by federal and provincial government departments and agencies, trade associations, universities and international organizations for policy development and as a measure of regional economic activity.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Enterprise Statistics Division
150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at statcan.esd-helpdesk-dse-bureaudedepannage.statcan@canada.ca- this link will open in a new window or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada, Infrastructure Canada, the Canada Energy Regulator, Natural Resources Canada and Sustainability Development Technology Canada.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Legal name

Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

First name

Last name

Title

Preferred language of communication

• English
• French

Mailing address (number and street)

City

Province, territory or state

Postal code or ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) code
Example: A9A 9A9 or 12345-1234

Email address
Example: user@example.gov.ca

Telephone number (including area code)
Example: 123-123-1234

Extension number (if applicable)

Fax number (including area code)
Example: 123-123-1234

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

• Operational
• Not currently operational
• e.g., (for example) temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership

Why is this business or organization not currently operational?

• Seasonal operations
• Ceased operations
• Sold operations
• Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
• Temporarily inactive but will re-open
• No longer operating due to other reasons

When did this business or organization close for the season?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

When did this business or organization cease operations?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

Why did this business or organization cease operations?

• Bankruptcy
• Liquidation
• Dissolution
• Other

Specify the other reasons why the operations ceased.

When was this business or organization sold?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

What is the legal name of the buyer?

When did this business or organization amalgamate?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?

What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?

When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?

When did this business or organization cease operations?

• Date
  Example: YYYY-MM-DD

Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS , are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

• This is the current main activity
• This is not the current main activity

Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity.

e.g. , breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as:?

• Yes
  • When did the main activity change?
    • Date
• No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

How to search:

• if desired, you can filter the search results by first selecting this business or organization's activity sector
• enter keywords or a brief description that best describes this business or organization main activity
• press the Search button to search the database for an activity that best matches the keywords or description you provided
• then select an activity from the list.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

• Farming or logging operation
• Construction company or general contractor
• Manufacturer
• Wholesaler
• Retailer
• Provider of passenger or freight transportation
• Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
• Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
• Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
• Provider of health care or social services
• Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
• Other sector

Enter keywords or a brief description, then press the Search button

Reporting period information

1. What are the start and end dates of this organization's 2024 fiscal year?

Note: For this survey, the end date should fall between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:

• May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024
• June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024
• July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
• August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024
• September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024
• October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024
• November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024
• December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024
• January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
• February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025
• March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025
• April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

Here are other examples of fiscal periods that fall within the required dates:

• September 18, 2023 to September 15, 2024 (e.g., floating year-end)
• June 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 (e.g., a newly opened business).

Fiscal Year Start
Example: YYYY-MM-DD

• Date

Fiscal Year-End
Example: YYYY-MM-DD

• Date

2. What is the reason the reporting period does not cover a full year?

Select all that apply.

Seasonal operations

New business

Change of ownership

Temporarily inactive

Change of fiscal year

Ceased operations

Other reason - specify:

Additional reporting instructions

3. Throughout this questionnaire, please report financial information in thousands of Canadian dollars.

For example, an amount of $763,880.25 should be reported as:

CAN$ '000

I will report in the format above.

Capital Expenditures - Preliminary Estimate 2024

4. For the fiscal year 2024, what are this organization's preliminary estimates for capital expenditures?

Include: all capitalized overhead and capitalized interest.

• When there are partnerships and joint venture activities or projects, report the expenditures reflecting this corporation's net interest in such projects or ventures.
• Report all dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars ('000).
• Exclude sales tax.
• When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimates.

If there are no capital expenditures, please enter '0'.

A. Oil and gas rights acquisition and retention costs (exclude inter-company sales or transfers):

Include acquisition costs and fees for oil and gas rights (include bonuses, legal fees and filing fees), and oil and gas retention costs.

B. Exploration and evaluation, capitalized or expensed ( e.g. , leases and licences, seismic, exploration drilling):

These expenditures include mineral rights fees and retention costs, geological, geophysical and seismic expenses, exploration drilling, and other costs incurred during the reporting period in order to determine whether oil or gas reserves exist and can be exploited commercially. Report gross expenditures, before deducting any incentive grants, incurred for oil and gas activities on a contracted basis and/or by your own employees. Exclude the cost of land acquired from other oil and gas companies.

C. Building construction ( e.g. , process building, office building, camp, storage building, and maintenance garage):

Include capital expenditures on buildings such as office buildings, camps, warehouses, maintenance garages, workshops, and laboratories. Fixtures, facilities and equipment that are integral parts of the building are included.

D. Other construction assets ( e.g. , development drilling and completions, processing facilities, natural gas plants, upgraders):

Include all infrastructure, other than buildings, such as the cost of well pads, extraction and processing infrastructure and plants, upgrading units, transportation infrastructure, water and sewage infrastructure, tailings, pipelines and wellhead production facilities (pumpjacks, separators, etc. ). Include all preconstruction planning and design costs such as development drilling, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments, engineering and consulting fees and any materials supplied to construction contractors for installation, as well as site clearance and preparation. Equipment which is installed as an integral or built-in feature of a fixed structure ( e.g. , casings, tanks, steam generators, pumps, electrical apparatus, separators, flow lines, etc. ) should be reported with the construction asset; however, when the equipment is replaced within an existing structure, the replacement cost should be reported in machinery and equipment (sustaining capital).

E. Machinery and equipment purchases ( e.g. , trucks, shovels, computers, etc. ):

Include transportation equipment for people and materials, computers, software, communication equipment, and processing equipment not included in the above categories.

Preliminary Estimate

	2024 Preliminary Estimate ( CAN$ '000 )
Oil and gas rights acquisitions and retention costs
Exploration and evaluation
Non-residential building construction
Development and other construction
Machinery and equipment
Total

Total

Research and Development

5. For the fiscal year 2024, did this organization perform scientific research and development in Canada of at least $10,000 or outsource (contract-out) to another organization scientific research and development activities of at least $10,000?

Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge. For an activity to be an R&D activity, it must satisfy five core criteria:

1. To be aimed at new findings (novel);
2. To be based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypothesis (creative);
3. To be uncertain about the final outcome (uncertainty);
4. To be planned and budgeted (systematic);
5. To lead to results to could be possibly reproduced (transferable/ or reproducible).

The term R&D covers three types of activity: basic research, applied research and experimental development. Basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view. Applied research is original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective. Experimental development is systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes.

• Yes
• No

Capital Expenditures - Intentions 2025

6. For the fiscal year 2025, what are this organization's intentions for capital expenditures?

Include: all capitalized overhead and capitalized interest.

• When there are partnerships and joint venture activities or projects, report the expenditures reflecting this corporation's net interest in such projects or ventures.
• Report all dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars ('000).
• Do not include sales tax.
• Percentages should be rounded to whole numbers.
• When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimates.

If there are no capital expenditures, please enter '0'.

A. Oil and gas rights acquisition and retention costs (exclude inter-company sales or transfers):

Include acquisition costs and fees for oil and gas rights (include bonuses, legal fees and filing fees), and oil and gas retention costs

B. Exploration and evaluation, capitalized or expensed ( e.g. , leases and licences, seismic, exploration drilling):

These expenditures include mineral rights fees and retention costs, geological, geophysical and seismic expenses, exploration drilling, and other costs incurred during the reporting period in order to determine whether oil or gas reserves exist and can be exploited commercially. Report gross expenditures, before deducting any incentive grants, incurred for oil and gas activities on a contracted basis and/or by your own employees. Exclude the cost of land acquired from other oil and gas companies.

C. Building construction ( e.g. , process building, office building, camp, storage building, and maintenance garage):

Include capital expenditures on buildings such as office buildings, camps, warehouses, maintenance garages, workshops, and laboratories. Fixtures, facilities and equipment that are integral parts of the building are included.

D. Other construction assets ( e.g. , development drilling and completions, processing facilities, natural gas plants, upgraders):

Include all infrastructure, other than buildings, such as the cost of well pads, extraction and processing infrastructure and plants, upgrading units, transportation infrastructure, water and sewage infrastructure, tailings, pipelines and wellhead production facilities (pumpjacks, separators, etc. ). Include all preconstruction planning and design costs such as development drilling, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments, engineering and consulting fees and any materials supplied to construction contractors for installation, as well as site clearance and preparation. Equipment which is installed as an integral or built-in feature of a fixed structure ( e.g. , casings, tanks, steam generators, pumps, electrical apparatus, separators, flow lines, etc. ) should be reported with the construction asset; however, when the equipment is replaced within an existing structure, the replacement cost should be reported in machinery and equipment (sustaining capital).

E. Machinery and equipment purchases ( e.g. , trucks, shovels, computers, etc. ):

Include transportation equipment for people and materials, computers, software, communication equipment, and processing equipment not included in the above categories.

Intentions 2024

	Intentions 2024 ( CAN$ '000 )
Oil and gas rights acquisitions and retention costs
Exploration and evaluation
Non-residential building construction
Development and other construction
Machinery and equipment
Total

Total

In order to reduce future follow-up, please select one of the following options.

You could also make corrections to the current cycle by pressing the Previous button.

You have not reported anything for 2025, but have entered data for 2024. Is this correct? If you do not intend on having any capital expenditures in the 2025 fiscal year, please return to the previous page and enter `0`s. If this information is not yet available, please press the Next button.

• I confirm that all values are correct.
• I am unable to confirm that all values are correct.

7.  You have not reported any capital expenditure intentions for 2025.

Please indicate the reason.

• Zero capital expenditure intentions for 2025
• Figures not available but plans are for no change in capital expenditures for 2025
• Figures not available but plans are for an increase in capital expenditures for 2025
• Figures not available but plans are for a decrease in capital expenditures for 2025

Research and Development

8. For the 2025 fiscal year, does this organization plan on performing scientific research and development in Canada of at least $10,000 or outsourcing (contracting-out) to another organization scientific research and development activities of at least $10,000?

Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge. For an activity to be an R&D activity, it must satisfy five core criteria:

1. To be aimed at new findings (novel);
2. To be based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypothesis (creative);
3. To be uncertain about the final outcome (uncertainty);
4. To be planned and budgeted (systematic);
5. To lead to results to could be possibly reproduced (transferable/ or reproducible).

The term R&D covers three types of activity: basic research, applied research and experimental development. Basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view. Applied research is original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective. Experimental development is systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes.

• Yes
• No

Notification of intent to extract web data

9. Does this business have a website?

• Yes

  Specify the business website address
  e.g. , www.example.ca

  Specify the business website address
  e.g. , www.example.ca

  Specify the business website address
  e.g. , www.example.ca

• No

Statistics Canada engages in web-data extraction, also known as web scraping, which is a process by which information is gathered and copied from the Web using automated scripts or robots, for retrieval and analysis. As a result, we may visit the website for this organization to search for and compile additional information. The use of web scraping is part of a broader effort to reduce the response burden on organizations, as well as produce additional statistical indicators to ensure that our data remain accurate and relevant.

We will strive to ensure that the data collection does not interfere with the functionality of the website. Any data collected will be used by Statistics Canada for statistical and research purposes only, in accordance with the agency’s privacy and confidentiality mandate.

More information regarding Statistics Canada’s web scraping initiative- this link will open in a new window.

Learn more about Statistics Canada’s transparency and accountability- this link will open in a new window.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Statistics Canada Client Services, toll-free at 1-877-949-9492 [Teletypewriter or Telecommunication device for the deaf/teletype machine (TTY): 1-800-363-7629] or by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca - this link will open in a new window. Additional information about this survey can be found by selecting the following link: Annual Capital Expenditures Survey: Preliminary Estimate for 2024 and Intentions for 2025.

Changes or events

10. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

• Labour shortages or employee absences
• Disruptions in supply chains
• Deferred plans to future or projects on hold
• Strike or lock-out
• Exchange rate impact
• Price changes in goods or services sold
• Contracting out
• Organizational change
• Price changes in labour or raw materials
• Natural disaster
• Recession
• Change in product line
• Sold business or business units
• Expansion
• New or lost contract
• Plant closures
• Acquisition of business or business units
• Other
  Specify the other changes or events:
• No changes or events

Contact person

11. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Is [Provided Given Names], [Provided Family Name] the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

First name:

Last name:

Title:

Email address:
Example: user@example.gov.ca

Telephone number (including area code):
Example: 123-123-1234

Extension number (if applicable):
The maximum number of characters is 5.

Fax number (including area code):
Example: 123-123-1234

Feedback

12. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

• Hours:
• Minutes:

13. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments
200 characters available