Examples of research areas and programs

• Geothermal heat as a lower-emission alternative to natural gas. 
• Water treatment to reduce use of fresh water and enhance water recycling systems.
• Solvents, combustion biological processes and electrical heating for in situ recovery processes to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and water use. 
• The AERI/Alberta Research Council Core Industry Research Program; a $4-million per year effort to improve the application of in situ thermal processes. 
• Use of petroleum coke – a by-product of the upgrading process – to produce synthetic gas to generate power and hydrogen. This could transform oil sands operators from a net consumer of natural gas to a net supplier. 
• The Hydrocarbon Upgrading Demonstration Program – an initiative to demonstrate upgrading integrated with gasification and carbon capture and storage. 
• A $1.8-million fund to develop new methods of reclaiming disturbed sites to full forest.