French oil major Total's confirmation that it is to decommission its oil sands processing operations at the Joslyn lease in Alberta may spark the development of a new training operation.

Company spokesperson Elizabeth Cordeau-Chatelain told Canada's Financial Post that the steam assisted gravity drainage project site could be used for training, although no firm decision has yet been taken.

"You can use it for training and development, you can sell it, you can dismantle," she said.

She also confirmed that although one part of the operation at Joslyn is being shelved, the company intends to continue working on a mine at the property.

Oil sands extraction is a complex process which is more costly than traditional oil drilling. A number of projects in the region stalled as oil prices plummeted in the wake of the financial crisis, undermining Canada's efforts to exploit its position as the world's second largest holder of crude reserves after Saudi Arabia.

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