Oil Sands Question and Response (OSQAR) Blog

Climate change explained

français

Thanks to BC-based online magazine The Tyee, you can become a climate change aficionado in just eight quick lessons. The magazine’s new crash course on climate change equips readers with the ‘must-know’ information in a fresh and easy to understand way.

Petroleum coke: friend or foe?

français

Last week a study was released that expressed concern about oil sands byproduct, petroleum coke.  The report alleges that existing analyses of Alberta’s oil sands fail to account for petroleum coke, which is a byproduct of development. When burned as a fuel, petroleum coke is more carbon-intensive than coal. 

Some of Suncor’s petroleum coke is used to support reclamation activities, while the remainder is sold and removed from our site by the North American rail network. Check out our recent OSQAR post for more information on oil sands byproducts and their uses.

Our Favourite Things: A Suncor parody

français

 

(With apologies to Richard Rodgers)

Free flowing barrels
And oil in demand
Production goals exceeded
Great results in hand
Glowing analyst reports
Tied up with strings
These are a few of our favourite things.

Our energy situation: time to stuff the suggestion box

français

Where is James Bond’s Q, Dr. Robotnik of Sonic the Hedgehog fame or Back to the Future’s Doc Brown when you need them? It just might take people with the determination and creativity of these famous fictional inventors to come up with the game-changing energy breakthroughs the world sorely needs right now.  

Is it time for oil sands operators to choo choo choose rail?

français

The public debate over pipelines has included talk about shipping crude by rail as an alternative mode of transport, a practice that’s been embraced by some conventional oil producers in regions not connected by pipelines.

Is slow the new fast?

français

Over the last two decades, foodies have encouraged people to slow down and take pleasure in the simpler, finer things in life, such as home-grown foods, craft beers and artisan wines.

Will CCS help reduce oil sands GHG emissions?

français

The Alberta government has placed a large importance on carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction technology, committing $2 billion to advancing four large-scale demonstration CCS projects in the province.

Planes, trains and automobiles: Getting under the hood of GHG emissions

français

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation is a critical part of any climate change and energy strategy. It is also the toughest problem to tackle, since in all countries, big or small, rich or poor, personal mobility and the movement of goods are essential for economic efficiency and quality of life.

Trimming GHG emissions: fad diet or balanced approach?

français

Greenhouse gases (GHG) may be out of sight, but they’re definitely not out of mind for anyone concerned about the production and consumption of fossil fuels and impacts on climate change.

Electric cars – getting past the hype

français

From California to China, electric cars are being touted by governments,  environmentalists and automobile marketers as the ultimate green transportation solution.