Shell submitted the application on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, a joint venture among Shell Canada Energy (60%) Chevron Canada Limited (20%) and Marathon Oil Canada Corporation (20%).

The Quest project would capture more than one million tonnes of CO₂ per year from the Shell Scotford Upgrader, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Edmonton. The CO₂ would be transported by an 84 km (52-mile) pipeline to injection wells north of Shell Scotford and permanently stored more than two kilometers (1.24 miles) underground into the deepest saline aquifer formation in Alberta (the Basal Cambrian Sands) beneath several layers of impermeable rock.

The regulatory submission includes applications for each component of the project, including the capture, transport and storage of CO₂. The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) is the primary regulatory agency for the project. A cooperative Environmental Assessment was conducted to meet both provincial and federal requirements, with Alberta Environment acting as the lead party.

A final investment decision on the proposed Quest project would not be taken until the regulatory process is complete. A decision to proceed with the project would depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to, the outcome of the regulatory process, economic feasibility and final project costs, and ongoing consultation with key stakeholders.