Research

The Research group of the Northern Oil and Gas Branch plans and coordinates federally-funded science research that supports management of oil and gas activities in the North. This research works towards improving environmental, economic and social sustainability of oil and gas development in Canada’s North, in a manner that is consistent with the Government’s Northern Strategy   as well as its responsibilities under the Canada Petroleum Resources Act   and the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act  .

To ensure sustainable oil and gas development in the North, Canada has committed significant resources to better understand scientific baseline conditions in areas under consideration for development. Baseline studies conducted through targeted research and monitoring programs by federal research organizations on biophysical and geotechnical conditions provide regulators with the information to identify potential environmental effects and evaluate engineering requirements of proposed oil and gas projects within the context of the regional environment.

As part of the strategic planning process in anticipation of oil and gas activities in Canada’s North, the Northern Oil and Gas Branch leverages partnerships among industry, Aboriginal communities and other federal government departments to initiate scientific research.  To this end, the Northern Oil and Gas Branch research team carries out the following activities:

• Coordinating federally-funded science research for the Mackenzie Gas Project and induced oil and gas activities.
• Leading research planning for the Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment.
• Representing INAC at the Environmental Studies Research Funds.
• Representing INAC on the Frontier Oil and Gas Portfolio and associated programs under the Program of Energy Research and Development.
• Contributing to and organizing a component of the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme’s recent Arctic Council Oil and Gas Assessment.
• Coordinating the Canada – United States Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum.
• Maintaining a record of historical northern oil and gas research initiatives to further our current understanding and to avoid duplication of research.