What does it all mean? Your guide to industry acronyms and abbreviations
December 18, 2025
Acronyms and abbreviations are often prevalent in technical industries, used as a shorthand to refer to technologies, processes, organizations and more. But for those who aren’t in-the-know, these terms can seem like a different language.
The list below explains some common terms used in oil and gas and related industries. The list is by no means exhaustive but is meant as a resource to help you understand these terms and to learn more.
AER
Alberta Energy Regulator. The AER is an independent government agency that regulates the development of energy resources in Alberta.
AOSP
Athabasca Oil Sands Project. Quest is owned by the AOSP, of which Pathways member company, Canadian Natural has 80% interest.
bbl/day
Barrels per day. This is a unit of measurement for oil production. One barrel is equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons.
CCS
Carbon capture and storage. A process that captures CO2 emissions caused by industrial activities and stores them permanently underground.
CO2 e
Carbon dioxide equivalent. A standard unit for measuring the effect of greenhouse gases on climate change. Different types of emissions are converted to the equivalent amount of CO2.
COSIA
Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, the innovation arm of Pathways Alliance. COSIA focuses on technology advancements in four environmental priority areas: land, water, air and tailings.
CSS
Cyclic Steam Stimulation. An oil sands extraction method that uses steam to help heat and soften bitumen.
DAC
Direct air capture. DAC technologies use powerful fans to suck in ambient air and pair it with a sorbent, which acts like a sponge by soaking up the carbon dioxide molecules.
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment. Required by the Government of Alberta, an EIA is a detailed evaluation of the potential effects a proposed project could have on the environment.
G7
The Group of Seven. An informal grouping of countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union.
IEA
The International Energy Agency. An organization which provides data and analysis on the global energy sector.
In situ
Sometimes called in-place extraction, in-situ processes are used when bitumen in the oil sands is too deep underground to be mined.
MMB/d
Million barrels per day.
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
NAABA
Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association. Founded in 1993, NAABA now represents more than 90 Indigenous-owned businesses with another 90 non-Indigenous associate members.
OTSG
Once-through steam generator. A boiler used for in-situ extraction processes that generates superheated steam.
PAIR
Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations. Developed by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, this certification program assesses and confirms corporate performance in Indigenous relations at the Bronze, Silver or Gold level.
SAGD
Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage. An in-situ extraction method that recovers bitumen from deep oil sands deposits using pairs of horizontal wells, one circulating steam and the other producing bitumen.
