Improving Robustness of LCA Results Through Stakeholder Engagement: A Case Study of Emerging Oil Sands Technologies

Abstract

Life cycle assessments can help to inform decision-making about greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction opportunities but are often not embraced by stakeholders associated with industries where study results are highly scrutinized and often contentious. This project was motivated by stakeholder interest in understanding open source life cycle models (the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator, OPGEE, and the Petroleum Refinery Life Cycle Inventory Model, PRELIM) and how accurately they can estimate emissions for existing oil sands projects and emerging technologies. We evaluate the robustness of these models and improve them using data from three existing oil sands projects (mining + upgrading, mining + dilution, and steam assisted gravity drainage, SAGD, + dilution). The models are then applied to estimate the GHG emissions reduction potential for two emerging in situ oil sands technologies. We find that, when boundaries are aligned, OPGEE can generate upstream GHG emissions estimates for the projects modeled within 1-4% of company reported GHG emissions data. Extending the boundary to include indirect (life cycle) emissions can lead to a doubling in upstream GHG emissions intensity. The two emerging technologies evaluated in the study can reduce upstream emissions by 14-19% compared to a SAGD project operating at the same reservoir, or 1.4-1.9% on a well-to-wheel basis. This work contributes a revised process of conducting LCAs that includes stakeholder input throughout and results in more robust and transparent estimations of emissions from deploying existing and emerging technologies.<br>

Modeling environmental impacts with care professionals & examining hazardous air pollutants in environmental justice communities in Massachusetts

“…The Role of a Collaborative and Multi-stakeholder Approach" stakeholders included companies, researchers, and trade associations (Testa et al, 2022). Another study by Sleep et al (2021) similarly implemented an active stakeholder engagement approach. They "engage [d] regularly with [an] Advisory Committee to solicit feedback on selection of boundaries, functional units… [and] final decisions about the study design were made by the research team" (Sleep et al, 2021).…”

“…Another study by Sleep et al (2021) similarly implemented an active stakeholder engagement approach. They "engage [d] regularly with [an] Advisory Committee to solicit feedback on selection of boundaries, functional units… [and] final decisions about the study design were made by the research team" (Sleep et al, 2021). The three LCA studies in this dissertation were produced in partnership between LCA practitioners and direct stakeholders in cultural heritage and healthcare.…”