CALGARY, Alberta, July 13 (UPI) -- Shell's division in Canada said it aims to get approval to start development of oil sands in the Canadian province of Alberta within 18 months.
Shell Canada and other supermajors are petitioning the Canadian government for regulatory approval to expand development in oil sands projects in Alberta.
Oil sands are controversial because of the perceived corrosive capacity of the heavy crude. Emissions are said to be greater than from conventional crude. Workers in Michigan are cleaning up the Kalamazoo River after a heavy crude spill last year.
ConocoPhillips is planning to invest about $1.5 billion in oil sands in Alberta this year. Senior officials said the company holds as much as 15 billion barrels of oil sands in the region.
John Abbot, vice president for heavy oil at the Shell Canada, said his company was also seeking approval from Canadian officials.
"We hope it will take 18 months to complete the regulatory process," he was quoted by the Platts news service as saying.
