Tar Sands 101
The Tar Sands "Gigaproject" is the largest industrial project in human history and likely also the most destructive. The tar sands mining procedure releases at least three times the CO2 emissions as regular oil production and is slated to become the single largest industrial contributor in North America to Climate Change.
The tar sands are already slated to be the cause of up to the second fastest rate of deforestation on the planet behind the Amazon Rainforest Basin. Currently approved projects will see 3 million barrels of tar sands mock crude produced daily by 2018; for each barrel of oil up to as high as five barrels of water are used.
Human health in many communities has seriously taken a turn for the worse with many causes alleged to be from tar sands production. Tar sands production has led to many serious social issues throughout Alberta, from housing crises to the vast expansion of temporary foreign worker programs that racialize and exploit so-called non-citizens. Infrastructure from pipelines to refineries to super tanker oil traffic on the seas crosses the continent in all directions to allthree major oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.
The mock oil produced primarily is consumed in the United States and helps to subsidize continued wars of aggression against other oil producing nations such as Iraq, Venezuela and Iran.
To understand the tar sands in more depth, continue to our Tar Sands 101 reading list
Weak oil and debt markets may bedevil tar sands plans
Weak oil and debt markets may bedevil oil sands plans
Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:16pm EDT
By Jeffrey Jones - Analysis
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - A double whammy of tumbling crude prices and shaky credit markets could force some companies to delay multibillion-dollar Canadian oil sands projects, cutting the country's overall output forecast.
Most at risk are developments that are in the design phase but have yet to start construction. Some have already been delayed due to surging costs, a tight labor market and stricter regulatory scrutiny.
First Nation coalition threatens blockades over Enbridge Alberta Clipper pipeline
First Nation coalition threatens blockades over oil pipeline
Jason Warick
Saskatchewan News Network; Canwest News Service
September 15, 2008
SASKATOON -- The chief of a Saskatchewan First Nation is leading a coalition of First Nations considering blockades or other action to halt construction of a multimillion-dollar oil pipeline until their concerns are addressed.
First Nations from across Western Canada meet today and Tuesday in Edmonton to plot their strategy, Red Pheasant Chief Sheldon Wuttunee said in an interview Sunday.
"Canadian tar sands needed"-- Keystone Pipeline (N Dakota)
Canadian oil sands needed
LOADING
Sep 14, 2008 - 04:05:23 CDT
ROBERT JOHNSON
Bismarck
As a North Dakota geologist, I find the environmentalists’ opposition to U.S. use of Canadian oil sands and the Keystone pipeline narrow-minded and self-serving.
The public interest in ensuring America’s energy security requires that we use Canada’s oil sands. Second in size only to Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves, the oil sands hold an estimated 173 billion barrels of oil.
Fort Chip to world: SOS
Fort Chip to world: SOS
Posted on September 14, 2008 by zandernat
Climate change, water policy and aboriginal health. Three issues that should be atop the election agenda. Three issues that start with the oil sands.
Canadians are dying. Our government is doing nothing about it. Will it take world attention to end this injustice?
Majority of Albertans don't buy 'dirty oil' label
Oilsand fears wrestle benefits
Majority of Albertans don't buy 'dirty oil' label
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald // September 14, 2008
Albertans appear conflicted about the massive oilsands -- a resource nearly everyone agrees is an economic bonanza for the province, but one many feel is accompanied by a worrying array of environmental and human health effects.
In a wide-reaching Leger Marketing poll of 962 Albertans focused on their impressions of the oilsands, respondents were clearly concerned about the industry's impacts, especially when it comes to health complaints.
Tar-sands pipeline will undo Quebec's work on environment
Tar-sands pipeline will undo Quebec's work on environment
Voters should press governments to force polluters to reduce emissions
MATT PRICE and AARON FREEMAN, Freelance
Published: Wednesday, September 10
Quebec was one of the first provinces to show leadership on tackling global warming. It is now pursuing more efficient vehicles, has a carbon tax at the fuel wholesale level, and is joining other jurisdictions in a cap-and-trade system to control greenhouse-gas emissions.
It's a shame that this progress is being undone by the tar sands.
Suncor's coke solution? Ahoy, Port Alberta (Near Prince Rupert)
Suncor's coke solution? Ahoy, Port Alberta
PATRICK BRETHOUR
Globe and Mail
July 25, 2008
PRINCE RUPERT -- The massive pyramids of coal on Prince Rupert's Ridley Island are anonymous, but one has a story to tell.
The coal pile in question belongs to oil sands giant Suncor Energy Inc., which is already shipping a half-million tonnes a year through Prince Rupert to Asian and Mexican ports. Suncor hasn't decided to branch out into the coal mining business. The coal - to be more precise, petroleum coke - comes from its upgrading operations in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Natives push moratorium on Shell methane project (north BC)
Natives push moratorium on Shell methane project
The Canadian Press
September 13, 2008
Prince Rupert -- Support is growing for a moratorium on drilling in an area called the Sacred Headwaters, say opponents of a coal-bed methane project near the Nass River in northern British Columbia.
More than 150 people attended an information meeting in New Aiyansh this week to discuss the project proposed by Shell Canada.
In 2004, Shell Canada was awarded a 400,000-hectare tenure for coal-bed methane development in the area, also known as the Klappan.
New coke facility to open by 2010: ConocoPhillips (Illinois).
New coke facility to open by 2010: ConocoPhillips unit cost is $2 billion
Thu. September 11, 2008
A new $2 billion coke unit at the ConocoPhillips Wood River Refinery should be in use in two years.
Before the end of 2010, the new coke oven is expected to be in operation at the Roxana plant and help expand daily production capacity from 306,000 barrels to approximately 360,000 barrels. That will translate into 312 gallons of gasoline and fuel produced each day.
Whose energy independence?
Whose energy independence?
Tar sands are key to energy security plans in the US election, but federal parties ignore Canada’s dependence on foreign oil
RICARDO ACUÑA / ualberta.ca/parkland
One of the ways in which the current US presidential election differs from the current Canadian federal election is that oil prices, energy independence and energy security are all critical campaign issues for the US.
