CALGARY - Imperial Oil Ltd. (TSX:IMO) is looking at security after several high-profile occupations of Alberta oilsands projects by environmentalists, the company's chief executive said Thursday.

Greenpeace protesters who took over a Shell plant near Edmonton and blocked production at a Suncor Energy (TSX:SU) upgrading refinery near Fort McMurray have changed the way companies think about protecting their sprawling projects, Bruce March told reporters following a speech to Calgary's business community.

"I think what we've seen with the Greenpeace excursions are elements that are very well planned out, they're very well prepared, they're effectively executed, they're very organized and that may be changing our thinking somewhat," he said.

RCMP officers were called in and 16 Greenpeace protesters were arrested after demonstrating at the Shell oilsands upgrader plant near Edmonton earlier this month. Break-and-enter charges were laid in that instance.

Mischief charges were laid after a Sept. 30 attempt to block production at Suncor's upgrader near Fort McMurray.

March said Imperial has always had security in place to keep trespassers out, primarily for safety reasons, but the latest incursions mean Canada's largest oil producer and refiner may have to rethink its strategies.

It is a major player in the oilsands with a large minority stake in the Syncrude Canada partnership, the world's largest oilsands development. Imperial is also weighing a potential expansion to its Cold Lake operations and has approved its $8-billion Kearl oilsands mine.

As many companies expand Canadian oilsands projects and planned pipelines to carry heavy crude to U.S. refineries, environmentalists have raised the pressure on the industry, warning the rapid growth will harm the environment, produce more greenhouse gases and deplete water resources.

"I think we're generally concerned that it's occurring and wish that organizations like (Greenpeace) would be able to participate in a manner that's a little more constructive."

Greenpeace says it is trying to draw attention to the oilsands' impact on global warming and environmental impacts of rapid oilsands developments in northern Alberta.

March said such tactics by environmental groups have been very successful at positioning the oilsands as an international climate change menace.

There's no doubt that a lot of the national groups like Greenpeace have placed oilsands developments first and foremost on both the national and the global stage."

But he added he's convinced that the world will be willing to listen to a different story from industry and the Canadian government when it comes to the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen.

"We think we have a pretty good story to tell around our development, and we're not concerned about getting an equal chance to view those things at all."

Imperial is Canada's largest integrated oil company, with oil, natural gas and petrochemicals businesses and a string of Esso-branded gasoline stations and refineries across the country.

The company, about 70 per cent owned by U.S.-based global energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM), also has extensive operations in the Canadian Far North.

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