Research Portal

Stimulating Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia

January – March 2021

To attract Offshore Wind (OSW) investment to Nova Scotia, it is important to understand the development in other jurisdictions. For example, Europe has developed, and the USA are developing, an active OSW industry encompassing the entire OSW supply chain.

Net-Zero Future: A Feasibility Study of Hydrogen Production, Storage, Distribution and Use in The Maritimes - NL Extension

January – March 2021

This study investigated what role hydrogen can play in Newfoundland and Labrador’s future energy system.

Assessing the Economic Impacts of Developing the Port of Sheet Harbour Into an Offshore Wind Hub

February – March 2021

Currently, multiple OSW projects off the Northeast US are under development. The OSW capacity in the US is forecast to grow significantly in the next decade with approximately 11 GW already contracted to be installed over the next years.

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

Microbial Genomics for De-Risking Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration in Nova Scotia

April 2016 – March 2021

The purpose of this $6.5M project is to develop, validate and deploy different genomics-based bioassay tools for offshore prospecting on the Scotian Slope.

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

Sequence stratigraphy, titania diagenesis and relationship to petroleum systems modeling

October 2018 – January 2021

This project examines different forms of titania (TiO2) minerals to confirm the relationship between late diagenetic titania (i.e., titania minerals transformed under the heat and pressure of sedimentary processes) and hydrocarbon migration and thus assess the use of titania polymorphs as “pathfi

Development of High Performance Tidal Turbine Rotors

January 2013 – October 2015

This research investigated and informed novel and cost-effective engineering solutions to extract and deliver energy from tidal flows.

Marine Renewable Energy: Background Report To Support a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Cape Breton Coastal Region, inclusive of the Bras D’Or Lakes

June – December 2012

In 2011 following a competitive request for proposal process, OERA commissioned AECOM’s Halifax office to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for marine renewable energy in Cape Breton.

Cape Breton Tidal Energy Resource Assessment

November 2011 – October 2012

In support of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Cape Breton Region, inclusive of the Bras d’Or Lakes, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) units were deployed at Barra Strait, Seal Island Bridge and Carey Point to collect tidal flow information.  Potential sites for tidal e

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

River Sources & Sand Transfer to the Deepwater Lower Cretaceous Scotian Basin

August 2007 – August 2010

This project aims to define the distribution systems for sand and help industry explorers refine their exploration targets and better understand the quality of underground petroleum reservoirs.

Geoscience » Source Rock & Depositional Environment

Reservoir Distribution & Characterization: Shelf to Slope Linked Depositional Systems

August 2007 – August 2010

The objectives of this study are 1) to understand the complexities of shelf-to-slope and slope sedimentation patterns, and 2) to understand the controls inherent in mixed siliciclastic and carbonate shelf-edge depositional systems.  New play concepts were developed that identified significant rew