According to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Shell Canada won its call for bids to secure the exploration rights on four parcels of deepwater land off the southwest shore of the province. Over the next six years, Shell will spend CAD970 million exploring Nova Scotia offshore oil and gas deposits. The board has stated that Shell will now be able to drill in water ranging from depths of 1,400m to 3,700m off the Scotia Shelf and that the company has demonstrated experience in deepwater drilling which includes being involved in previous wells in the Canadian Maritimes. Under the agreement, Shell must post a 25% deposit of its bid for the exploration licences set to begin 1 March pending federal and provincial government approval. The Nova Scotia provincial government will seek further bids on the remaining blocks to be issued in May.