Energy and how it is captured and consumed is barely viable in tar sands production. While the amount of oil in places such as the tar sands in Alberta or the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela may have deposits of similar size to the reserves of countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iraq, the return of new energy after expending energy in production is not even close. In Iraq, the process of using one barrel of oil generates 100 new barrels. In the tar sands, estimates of 3 to 1 and even as low as 1.5 to 1 have been made. Offsetting the net energy loss would require minimally 25-30 tar sands facilities for one Saudi plant operating at the same capacity.
Nexen shares tumble on lower Long Lake outlook
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald November 16, 2010
CALGARY - Nexen Inc. saw its shares fall on Tuesday after the Calgary-based oil producer said its Long Lake oilsands project won't hit full capacity this year or next.
In Alberta, dissenters are just asking for a smack-down
Prominent scientists, doctors, leaders attacked for speaking out
By David Thompson, Edmonton Journal November 15, 2010
Dr. Paul Parks finally got the Alberta government to address his concerns about a potential "catastrophic collapse" of emergency care.
However, it took the media's bright spotlight to make it happen.
Parks had been quietly raising the issue with the government since early 2008, when he began documenting serious problems in emergency wards.
But that didn't get the government to act.
Mackenzie pipeline report OK'd by N.W.T., Ottawa
Last Updated: Monday, November 15, 2010
CBC News
The proposed $16.2-billion Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline is a step closer to reality after the federal and Northwest Territories governments agreed Monday with most of the recommendations set out by a review panel last year.
They said they can eliminate or mitigate any potential adverse impacts if the 1,200-kilometre natural gas pipeline goes ahead.
Arctic seen as possible shipping route for massive industrial components
NATHAN VANDERKLIPPE
CALGARY— Globe and Mail Update
Published Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010
As protesters clog a new corridor built to transport the massive building blocks of a new oil sands mine, a small Northwest Territories company has suddenly found itself showered with interest by Asian companies looking for an alternative.
Effort to keep big rigs off Montana highways continues to spread
By KIM BRIGGEMAN of the Missoulian missoulian.com
October 31, 2010
From grassroots to Manhattan, the battle to keep hundreds of big rigs off the two-lane highways of Montana and Idaho continues to mushroom.
What began early last spring as an energetic local effort centered in Missoula spread quickly over Lolo Pass into rural Idaho. It has since reached across state lines and into the war rooms of an impressive array of environmental groups.
Oil and water cannot be allowed to mix along B.C.'s stunning coastline
By Tyler McCreary
| October 29, 2010
Beneath Alaska, between the islands of Haida Gwaii and the northern British Columbia coast, is the wide but shallow Hecate Strait. Originally termed Seegaay by the Haida, Captain George Henry Richards, affixed the name Hecate to the strait in the early 1860s. Hecate was a Greek goddess associated with magic and crossroads, a governess of the wilderness and liminal regions where the spirits interact with the living.
Nexen earnings rise fourfold
Mechanical problems still plaguing Long Lake
By Jeffrey Jones, Reuters October 29, 2010
Nexen Inc. and Cenovus Energy Inc. on Thursday said operational problems weighed on their quarterly results, prompting investors to pull away from shares of the Canadian tarsands producers.
The issues were both internal and external, and highlighted complexities of developing Alberta's tarsands, the largest crude-oil source outside the Middle East.
Senators Assail Clinton Over Tar Sands Pipeline Comments
Concern that State Department is pre-judging the outcome of a pipeline permit without adequate analysis
By Stacy Feldman
Leading Senate Democrats are scolding the State Department for hastily moving to approve a Canada-to-Texas pipeline that would nearly double U.S. oil sands imports and cut through the nation's largest underground aquifer.
US Tea Party's Deep Ties to Oil Sands Giant
Owners of Koch Industries, a major processor of Alberta crude, spent millions to foment and support a movement against Obama's climate change policies.
By Geoff Dembicki, November 1, 2010, TheTyee.ca
The Tea Party movement, poised to help shift the U.S. legislature to the right and stymie President Obama's green agenda, has financial and organizational ties to Koch Industries, one of America's biggest processors of Alberta oil sands crude.
[Keep following this story; apparently it may also be Suncor and hundreds more than this article suggests...]
At least 125 ducks die in latest Syncrude incident
By Scott Haggett And Jeffrey Jones –
Tue Oct 26, 2010
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) – About 125 ducks had to be euthanized after landing on a toxic waste pond owned by Syncrude Canada Ltd, just three days after the oil sands producer was penalized C$3 million for a similar incident two years ago that killed 1,600 waterfowl.
