We aspire to produce oil with lower greenhouse gas emissions than other sources of oil.
COSIA’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Environmental Priority Area (EPA) is investigating ways to reduce energy use and associated GHG emissions through the development of innovative technologies for oil sands in situ (in place) and mining operations.
Oil sands companies are working together, building on each other’s expertise and collaborating with universities, government and research institutes on energy efficiency projects that reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the production of associated GHG emissions. We are also exploring the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) options, a technology successfully used in other countries to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large industrial facilities such as coal, oil and gas facilities and other industrial operations before the CO2 is emitted to the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then transported through pipelines for permanent storage in deep, secure underground formations.
GHG Priorities
- Improving energy efficiency in all aspects of oil sands operations, including the production of steam for in situ (in place) recovery of bitumen
- Recovering waste heat for reuse
- Design and operating best practices
- Measurement, monitoring, and verification
- Reducing flaring, venting, and fugitive emissions
- CCS of CO2 from steam generators and other large oil sands facilities
- Producing alternative energy
- Exploring regional opportunities to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions with non-industry parties
Open source innovation
COSIA's Innovation Opportunities provide focused, actionable descriptions of the current state of opportunities related to environmental processes and impacts of the oil sands industry. Case Studies include everything from theoretical papers to lab tests to field trials and everything in between. In Research, you'll find considerable resources in academic literature research, laboratory research and environmental studies.
Collaborate with us
Our Environmental Technology Assessment Portal (E-TAP) provides an effective means to tap into the global environmental sector for solutions to current and future technology gaps and opportunities. If you have a technology idea you would like to submit on a non-confidential basis to COSIA for consideration then we invite you to submit your idea.