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
Hamm, producers try to combat a new concern in oil industry
Hamm, producers try to combat a new concern in oil industry
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
May 03, 2009
The United States has been concerned for many years about the influx of foreign oil, mostly from the Middle East into the United States. But now, a new concern from Canada is beginning to worry some oil producers, and, led by Enid’s Harold Hamm, they are taking steps to fight it.
Indian activists vow to fight northern Minn. oil pipeline
Indian activists vow to fight northern Minn. oil pipeline
by Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio
May 6, 2009
St. Paul, Minn. — Some Indian activists say they will fight a planned oil pipeline that would cross the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota.
The pipeline, which would be built by Enbridge Energy, would bring oil from Canada to a refinery in Superior, Wis. The Leech Lake Tribal Council has agreed to allow it to cross the reservation, in exchange for a $10 million payment from Enbridge Energy.
Natives, environmentalists assail proposed Enbridge oil pipeline to Kitimat
Natives, environmentalists assail proposed Enbridge oil pipeline to Kitimat
May 6, 2009
TORONTO — First nations and environmental activists say the oil industry is trying for an end run around U.S. concerns about oilsands pollution and will trample on native lands with Enbridge Inc.'s (TSX:ENB) proposed pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast.
A small group journeyed from British Columbia to the pipeline company's annual meeting Wednesday in Toronto to protest against the Northern Gateway project.
Statoil in trouble with major investors over its tar sands involvement
*News Release:*
* *
*Statoil in trouble with major investors over its tar sands involvement*
* *
13 May 2009 (Oslo, Norway) — Four major investors are putting pressure on
Statoil to withdraw from the tar sands, Greenpeace has learned.
Danske Bank has expressed its opposition to the contentious project while
Norway’s largest bank, DnBNOR, is holding meetings today to discuss whether
continued involvement in the Alberta tar sands is a sound investment.
In addition, prominent Statoil stakeholders, Folksam, a Swedish insurance
National Energy Board schedules a hearing on Keystone XL pipeline project
National Energy Board schedules a hearing on Keystone XL pipeline project
CALGARY, May 12 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB) has scheduled an
oral hearing on an application from TransCanada Keystone Pipeline GP Ltd.
(Keystone) to construct and operate the Canadian portion of its proposed
Keystone XL pipeline project.
The hearing is scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:00
a.m. at a location to be determined.
The proposed project is a crude oil line that would run from Alberta to
Crude oil leak at Burnaby Mountain tank contained: Kinder Morgan
Crude oil leak at Burnaby Mountain tank contained: Kinder Morgan
May 7, 2009 |
CBC News
Some Burnaby residents awoke to the strong smell of oil fumes after about 200,000 litres of crude oil spilled from a storage tank on Burnaby Mountain on Wednesday night.
The leak at the Kinder Morgan tank farm just east of Vancouver was spotted at about 10 p.m. by a contractor, the company said. The oil was captured in a lined containment bay surrounding the tank, and there were no leaks into the surrounding environment, the company said.
Beaufort Sea Off-Shore Drilling on Hold Thanks to Environmentalists
Off-Shore Drilling on Hold Thanks to Environmentalists
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter 12.MAY.09
A major oil company will not drill in the Beaufort Sea due to environmentalists’ concerns.
Shell withdrew its plan for exploration in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea on May 6. The plan spanned 2007 to 2009, but was too large-scale for environmentalists. They voiced concerns about impacts drilling would have on marine wildlife. Shell told the United States’ Minerals Management Services it will file a new exploration plan for 2010.
NWT Promotes Mackenzie Gas Pipeline in Texas
NWT Promotes Pipeline in Texas
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter 12.MAY.09
The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment was in Houston, Texas last week, promoting northern gas and reassuring potential investors that the GNWT still supports the Mackenzie Gas Project. Minister Bob McLeod is especially concerned about the US government’s plans to provide more than the current $18 billion in loan guarantees for an Alaskan pipeline, a situation he says weights the playing field in favour of the Americans.
Shell committed to tar sands despite $42m losses
Shell committed to tar sands despite $42m losses
Shell vows to press on with projects amid cost cuts and falling profits
* Terry Macalister
* guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 29 April 2009
Shell has pledged to continue with its controversial tar sands projects but has been forced to consider far-reaching cost cuts to keep the operations going after they lost $42m (£28m) in the last three months.
The Six Ways to Play Canada’s Oil Sector
The Six Ways to Play Canada’s Oil Sector
By Martin Hutchinson
Contributing Editor
Money Morning
With oil finally trading back above the $50-a-barrel level, it’s time to recognize that crude prices are probably not going to remain low for very long, and may end up fluctuating in the $50-$80 range - regardless of what happens to the prices of other commodities.
