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The Canadian oil sands lie at the intersection of crucial challenges to balance economic growth, energy security, and safeguards for the environment. The choices that governments, companies, and communities make in managing the interplay of these challenges will be critical in determining the pace and outcome of investments in the oil sands. The 2010 IHS CERA Oil Sands Dialogue program and associated reports cover four oil sands topics:
- IHS CERA Special Report The Role of Canadian Oil Sands in US Oil Supply Available now for free download
- Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions
- Oil sands technology: advances and outlook
- Impact of greenhouse gas policies
The Dialogue builds on the foundation of IHS CERA’s 2009 Multiclient Study Growth in the Canadian Oil Sands: Finding the New Balance. Available now for free download
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Volatile oil prices, threats to security of supply, and concerns about global warming have intensified the worldwide debate about oil resource development. In North America, the debate on the development path of the Canadian oil sands has moved to center stage, and its outcome will not only determine the playing field for oil sands firms, but it will also have a broader impact on oil supply in North America and beyond.
Canada and Alberta are at a critical juncture where policymakers have an opportunity to develop well-informed strategies for development of the oil sands. However, balancing the interests of multiple stakeholders requires a shared, objective understanding the tradeoffs, limitations, and impacts to various groups that specific policies will drive.
To advance the progress of the discussion and provide an informed, objective backdrop for its success, IHS CERA offers participation in its Energy Dialogue on Canadian Oil Sands.
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IHS CERA’s Energy Dialogue: Canadian Oil Sands provides a platform for stakeholders to engage in the formation of a transparent analysis of the benefits, costs, and impacts of various choices associated with oil sands development.
Through stakeholder input and discussion against a backdrop of independent research, the Canadian Oil Sands Energy Dialogue is a unique opportunity to inform the current public debate and future policy decisions on oil sands.
Building on the foundation of IHS CERA’s 2009 Multi-client Study Growth in the Canadian Oil Sands: Finding the New Balance, this Energy Dialogue provides an objective and independent research agenda delivering balanced information on the factors that will drive or inhibit future growth in the Canadian Oil Sands.
The Dialogue program will address how the future of Canadian oil sands might be impacted by four critical issues:
- The Role of Oil Sands in United States Energy Supply—How much of US future demand could be satisfied by alternatives such as oil sands and renewables? Which alternatives are viable and given the economics of alternatives compared to new conventional supply? What are the likely sources of energy supply?
- Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions—How do supply sources such as oil sands compare to new conventional sources on a lifecycle basis? How are oil sands GHG issues treated in different contexts, such as in electricity cogeneration and electricity export?
- Latest Technology in Oil Sands—How has improvement in production technology benefitted the energy efficiency of oil sands to date, and how could potential efficiency improvements impact the comparison between oil sands and conventional supply?
- Greenhouse Gas Policies —What is the result of multiple carbon policies at the state, federal, and provincial level? If multiple mechanisms for valuing emissions exist, how will the changes impact the economics of both conventional oil and oil sands supply?
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The Canadian Oil Sands Energy Dialogue is year-long program beginning in December 2009. Over the course of 2010, IHS CERA will deliver four cycles of research comprised of member meetings and special reports.
Deliverables include:
- Special Reports--Members will receive four Special Reports on four topics which have significant implications for oil sands development. These Special Reports will be made available to members for public redistribution.
- Detailed Data Reports--the detailed data and background information used to produce and support the Special Reports will be reserved for Dialogue members only.
- Focus Group Meetings--All members will receive two seats to participate in Focus Group discussions. Members may elect to nominate guest participants subject to IHS CERA approval. The topic-based conversations provide a venue for stakeholders to share views and information on current research topics and related oil sands issues.
- Access to IHS CERA Researchers--Telephone and email access to IHS CERA experts to address specific questions and input related to research.
- Access to Service Web Site at CERA.com--Repository for the Canadian Oil Sands Energy Dialogue research deliverables and other information relating to the service.
Additional benefits from advisory level membership include:
- Agenda Development--Participate in the development of the four topics that will comprise year long research agenda with kickoff meeting in late November 2009.
- Advance Copies of Special Reports--Invitation to provide views* on draft versions of Special Reports prior to issue to standard members and other stakeholders.
* Although research will draw upon input received from both focus groups and all members’ feedback, IHS CERA retains full editorial control of each Special Report and will remain solely responsible for the reports’ content
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To develop the insights and recommendations required for the success of this Dialogue, IHS CERA proposes a series of Focus Group Meetings.
The members’ discussion and input at the meetings will serve as the basis for the Special Reports authored by IHS CERA and published and furnished to members for redistribution shortly thereafter.
The proposed timeframe is:
- December 2009: Advisory Member meeting to set Dialogue agenda
- February 2010: First Focus Group Meeting : Role of Oil Sands in US Energy Supply, (Special Report issued March 2010)
- May 2010: Second Focus Group Meeting: Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Special Report issued June 2010)
- August 2010: Third Focus Group Meeting: Technology in Oil Sands (Special Report issued September 2010)
- November 2010: Fourth Focus Group Meeting: Greenhouse Gas Policy (Special Report issued December 2010)
- December 2010: Dialogue conclusion
Note: All dates are tentative and subject to change
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IHS CERA held a web conference call on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 1:00 pm EST to overview the new initiative for 2010: IHS CERA Energy Dialogue: Canadian Oil Sands.
The Dialogue program is a calendar of member and participant discussions organized and led by IHS CERA intended to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the critical factors surrounding a key industry issue. A Dialogue delivers original research to its members as well as produce Special Reports intended for public redistribution. The Dialogue program is intended for decision makers from all constituency groups, and provides a forum for articulating a more transparent, consistent, and useful approach to evaluating policy.
The purpose of the call was to
- Describe the Dialogue process and format
- Provide an overview of the 4 critical issues the Dialogue will address
- Describe research deliverables of the product and membership details
The call was about 30 minutes of presentation, followed by a web-based Q&A for 15 minutes.
To view a replay, please complete the form below:
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