MylesK (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mylesk) wrote,@ 2008-03-28 16:02:00 |
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Living on the Edge of the Empire
Alberta Research Council and U.S. energy department sign agreement
Gordon Jaremko, edmontonjournal.com
Published: 11:47 am, march 28 2008
EDMONTON - Use of atomic power for oilsands development will be investigated by a research partnership, announced today, between the Alberta and United States governments.
The Alberta Research Council and the U.S. energy department's main nuclear laboratory in Idaho signed an agreement calling for work on potential bitumen belt applications of electricity, heat and chemical byproducts from reactors proposed north of Edmonton.
"This is a marriage made in heaven," said Idaho laboratory associate director Bill Rogers. Although no budget for the collaboration was announced, he said potentially all his operation's 3,800 scientists can be drafted into the Alberta project.
"The U.S. is dependent on Alberta for energy security," Rogers said, pointing to the province's "essential" role as the biggest source of increasing American oil and natural gas imports.
In the U.S. view, Alberta stands out for reliability and stability as a supplier, he emphasized. Elsewhere "we face nationalization of resources in countries that are hostile to the U.S.," Rogers said.
ARC vice-president Ian Potter said the partnership plans to work out a research agenda by late summer or early fall.
Potential topics range from making nuclear reactors provide heat for steam used in thermal oilsands production to production of hydrogen and oxygen used in high volumes by bitumen upgraders, Potter said.
"Meeting our province's electricity demands both now and in the future begins with reliable and clear information on all of the available energy options," said Mel Knight, Alberta's minister of energy.
"We welcome collaborations such as the one announced between the Alberta Research Council and Idaho National Laboratories to provide the solid analysis and research on the options available to address Alberta's unique needs."
gjaremko@thejournal.canwest.com© Edmonton Journal 2008
Alberta Research Council and U.S. energy department sign agreement
Gordon Jaremko, edmontonjournal.com
Published: 11:47 am, march 28 2008
EDMONTON - Use of atomic power for oilsands development will be investigated by a research partnership, announced today, between the Alberta and United States governments.
The Alberta Research Council and the U.S. energy department's main nuclear laboratory in Idaho signed an agreement calling for work on potential bitumen belt applications of electricity, heat and chemical byproducts from reactors proposed north of Edmonton.
"This is a marriage made in heaven," said Idaho laboratory associate director Bill Rogers. Although no budget for the collaboration was announced, he said potentially all his operation's 3,800 scientists can be drafted into the Alberta project.
"The U.S. is dependent on Alberta for energy security," Rogers said, pointing to the province's "essential" role as the biggest source of increasing American oil and natural gas imports.
In the U.S. view, Alberta stands out for reliability and stability as a supplier, he emphasized. Elsewhere "we face nationalization of resources in countries that are hostile to the U.S.," Rogers said.
ARC vice-president Ian Potter said the partnership plans to work out a research agenda by late summer or early fall.
Potential topics range from making nuclear reactors provide heat for steam used in thermal oilsands production to production of hydrogen and oxygen used in high volumes by bitumen upgraders, Potter said.
"Meeting our province's electricity demands both now and in the future begins with reliable and clear information on all of the available energy options," said Mel Knight, Alberta's minister of energy.
"We welcome collaborations such as the one announced between the Alberta Research Council and Idaho National Laboratories to provide the solid analysis and research on the options available to address Alberta's unique needs."
gjaremko@thejournal.canwest.com© Edmonton Journal 2008
