@mastersthesis {53647,
	title = {Should Alberta upgrade oil sands bitumen? An integrated life cycle framework to evaluate energy systems investment tradeoffs},
	year = {2011},
	month = {09/2011},
	pages = {194 pages},
	school = {University of Calgary Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering },
	address = {Calgary, AB },
	abstract = {The inclusion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions costs in energy systems decision- making requires the development of a framework to inform stakeholders of the full costs and benefits of potential investments. This thesis develops such a framework by integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to explore the GHG and economic tradeoffs involved in upgrading vs. diluting oil sands bitumen under proposed carbon-price policies. An LCA study of these pathways is conducted through the development of a well-to-tank (WTT) spreadsheet model based on engineering principles and industry data. Plausible ranges of GHG emissions are developed for these pathways to explore GHG reduction opportunities. A CBA is then conducted to explore the costs and benefits of upgrading and dilution investments from multiple stakeholder perspectives. This thesis finds that at stringent carbon prices (> $75/tonne CO2e), public and private stakeholders may diverge in their views on whether Alberta should upgrade bitumen.},
	keywords = {CCS, CO2, economics, GHG, legislation, model, modeling, planning, policy, social issues, UofC},
	url = {http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/thesescanada/vol2/002/MR81942.PDF},
	author = {Choquette-Levy, N.}
}
