Production Planning for US Tar Sands

Bunger, James W.¹, Anton R. Dammer² (1) Bunger and Associates, Inc, Salt Lake City, UT (2) US Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 designated US tar sands as a Strategic Unconventional Resource and called upon federal and state agencies to prepare a 5 year Program Plan for accelerating development of US tar sands. An aggressive production goal has been framed and studies have been made to determine what government and private sector action is needed to achieve those goals.

A number of impediments to development have been identified including poor resource characterization, lack of federal lands leasing regulations, uncertainties with technology efficiency and reliability, uncertain permitting timelines, regressive fiscal regimes, and immature mechanisms for socioeconomic impact mitigation. Strategies designed to stimulate private sector investment have been developed that address each of these impediments.

Some strategies are currently being implemented and others will require further Congressional and Administration action. The various considerations and activities will be presented.