Oil Sands Question and Response (OSQAR) Blog

Reducing transportation emissions: A tale of two approaches

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They seem to accumulate as quickly emails, unpaid bills and grey hairs on our heads. They are kilometres and we rack them up effortlessly on the odometers of our personal vehicles.

Understanding CO2 capture and storage

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Canada’s oil sands companies continue to be under intense scrutiny over its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which currently account for 6.5 per cent of all Canadian GHG emissions. There are a number of ways to reduce CO2 emissions – increasing energy efficiency through operational and process changes, alternative energy, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS refers to the capture of CO2 emissions at the flue or stack and the long term storage of these emissions in stable underground reservoirs.

But have you ever wondered how CO2 stays securely underground? The CO2 Capture Project has launched the CCS browser to help the public learn more about CO2 capture and storage. The scientific process is brought to life through animations on an interactive website designed to explain everything you wanted to know, and more, about CCS. 

Photo Credit: CO2 Capture Project

Others worse no argument for success

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Much to the chagrin of the developers and pipeline operators, oil sands has become a climate change flashpoint for groups looking to hasten the exit of fossil fuels from the world’s energy mix.   

Running out of energy? Back away from the trough

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He leaves the water running. He leaves the fridge door open. He never turns off the computer.

Oil sands: we’ve got the power

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Those familiar with oil sands operations likely know that development generates several valuable by-products in addition to bitumen.

A fuel efficient engine: more useful than fins

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It’s a fact of life in this era of mass manufacturing that stuff – the accoutrements of our daily lives – tends to get better over time.

Flares: Useful for dancing and energy production

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When many hear the term “flare,” the first thing that comes to mind is the misguided pant style of their youth. Also known as bell-bottoms, flared trousers, which become wider from the knees downward, were very fashionable for men and women from the 1960s through to early 1980s. John Travolta wore them. So did Farrah Fawcett.

Is slow the new fast?

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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.

One of these things is not like the others

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Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), announced last week, certainly isn’t the first industry organization formed to address the environmental challenges of oil sands development.

Will CCS help reduce oil sands GHG emissions?

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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.