The first edition of the Heavy Oil and Oilsands Guidebook and Directory, published in 2006, was a collaborative effort between the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Heavy Oil Association, and JuneWarren-Nickle's Energy Group.

The goal was to enhance global awareness of technologies developed and used in the province, showcasing the increasingly important heavy oil and oilsands industry. The publication was so successful in doing this that it was awarded the 2007 Premier’s Award of Excellence.

The second edition was published in 2007 and titled Western Gold, communicating the value of heavy oil and oilsands resources in western Canada.

Building on the success of the first edition, Western Gold brought new visual elements and feature articles including profiles of key people in and around the industry.

The third volume in the series is an imperative companion to the two previous editions, updating and expanding valuable editorial coverage.

Through dynamic articles, imagery and statistics, Heavy Oil and Oilsands Guidebook and Directory III takes a closer look at the environmental issues the industry faces, and what government, companies, and stakeholders are doing to mitigate negative effects.

Moving into the fourth year of publication, the industry is facing a major slowdown as a result of a plunge in commodity prices and a global recession. Environmental issues are increasingly important, drawing heavy public pressure on governments and producing companies. However, the world continues to need fossil fuels with no end in site.

The fourth edition of this important series offers, through its unfailing combination of in-depth, balanced journalism, imagery, and stastistics, a touchstone for industry against which to measure its future progress. Canadian oil is of critical importance to global supply, and this publication continues to be the authoritive source for information about its development.