CALL FOR PAPERSDevelopment of Natural Gas from Shale in New Brunswick:

Economic Prospects and Evidence-based Policy Issues for Atlantic Canada

The Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy and Public Administration (CIRPPPA) is an independent, not-for-profit, and non-partisan research organization, located on the Moncton campus of the Université de Moncton. Our research network spans across New Brunswick, the Atlantic provinces and Canada. Our mission is to foster an evidence-based public debate by the dissemination of objective and non-partisan research on public policy issues that have an impact on the economic and social development of Atlantic Canada.

AIMS AND SCOPE: The Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy and Public Administration seeks research proposals for two (2) independent research papers on the economic and technological prospects of developing natural gas resources from Shale in New Brunswick.

These research papers are part of a project that seeks to foster an evidence-based public debate by the dissemination of objective and non-partisan research on the development of natural gas from Shale in New Brunswick. These two research papers will be added to a collection of research papers that study a number of related policy issues for Atlantic Canada, such as environmental, fiscal, regulatory, and aboriginal policy issues among others.

The collection of papers will be published electronically by the Canadian Institute of Research on Public Policy and Public Administration.

TOPICS OF INTEREST: 1- The Technical Challenges and Technological Opportunities of Horizontal Drilling and Fracture Stimulation: The Innovation Challenge

Achieving natural gas production out of otherwise unproductive rock requires technology-intensive processes that need to be adapted to the specific characteristics of rock formation and local climate, resource and infrastructure conditions. The safe and commercially sustainable production of natural gas from Shale in New Brunswick may become constrained by the availability of fresh water, the specific regulations, or the technical capability of drilling rigs. This paper will review the technical challenges, evaluate technological opportunities for natural gas production from shale, and assess the capacity for research and development by industry and universities in the Atlantic provinces to contribute technological solutions to technical challenges.

2- Estimating Social and Private Option Value for the Production of Natural Gas under Price Uncertainty

Conventional capital budgeting techniques such as discounted cash flow or net-present value analysis fail to recognize the investment flexibility that have an important option value in natural resource extraction problems. Such flexibility, such as the optimal timing of its initiation when prices are high and costs are low, is important where irreversible and uncertain investments need to be made by the private sector. This paper provides estimates of the private and social lost option value that must be added to the direct cost of investing for the development of shale gas in New Brunswick and estimate a private and social strike price of production should be exercised.

DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES:

The main deliverable consists of an 8,000-10,000 words research paper on the topic of interest. Papers are to be prepared in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, and The Oxford Canadian Dictionary. Authors are encouraged to use the McGill-Queen's University Press reference style guide that provides examples of citation and bibliography formats and gives information on the preparation and submission of figures, maps, and illustrations, etc.

In addition to a final revised draft of the paper to be submitted no later than July 15, 2013, authors will be required to submit a preliminary detailed outline by March 25, 2013 and submit a complete draft to the Editorial Committee no later than June 3, 2013. Financial incentives are offered in order to meet project and editorial deadlines and will be determined in an agreement.

Selected authors will be required to complete a Disclosure of Conflict of Interest form.

PAPER AND PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

Interested authors should submit a research proposal and curriculum vitae via email to: marc[dot]duhamel[at]umoncton[dot]ca. Proposals should be limited to a maximum of 1,000 words.

Independent research papers previously presented at major conferences as part of thematic sessions, but not previously published elsewhere, can be included, with the understanding that if the proposal is accepted, the papers will have to undergo peer review by an external and independent Editorial Committee.

For more detailed information about the project, questions or comments about this call for papers, please contact Marc Duhamel at the address above .

CLOSING DATE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: January 18, 2013

You can expect to receive a decision in 5 business days.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Each proposal will be evaluated according to the following criteria: expertise in the field of study; experience in the study of the oil and gas industry; and, proven ability to meet deadlines.