Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Energy

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.

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Too fearful to publicise peak oil reality

The economic establishment accepts the world soon won't be able to meet energy demands, but wants to keep quiet about it

o Madeleine Bunting
o guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 November 2009

Big tar sands players looking to solidify holdings by gobbling up smaller stakes

Big oilsands players looking to solidify holdings by gobbling up smaller stakes

By Lauren Krugel (CP) – November 11, 2009

CALGARY — Northern Alberta is a patchwork of motley oilsands properties, with some chunks controlled by energy heavyweights and others in the hands of smaller companies.

With virtually all of the premium morsels already spoken for, the map is expected change significantly as the bigger players consolidate their positions by gobbling up smaller holdings.

‘Peak oil’ closer than we think, says IEA mole

Oil gushes from a well

Whistleblower say phoney oil figures are being used to avoid panic on markets

By Edward Helmore
FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Despite the discovery of massive new, untapped reserves, the world is much
closer to running out of oil than official estimates show, claims a
whistleblower at the International Energy Agency in the /Guardian/.

The unnamed source claims the US has been deliberately underplaying any
potential shortage and, in effect, the IEA's annual Energy Outlook, expected to

ConocoPhilips Selling Off 9% Syncrude Stake

All eyes on $4B Syncrude stake
By Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Herald
October 30, 2009

ConocoPhillips' stake in Syncrude is up for grabs. Will the taker be an existing co-owner of Syncrude or will a new player--even a foreign national oil company--buy it as an entree into the oilsands?

Who is going to buy ConocoPhillips' nine per cent interest in Syncrude?

Enbridge Talking itself up to investors

Nov 4, 2009 1:35:00 PM MST
Enbridge boosts 2009 outlook, expects growth ''well into next decade'' (Enbridge)

CALGARY _ Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) increased its 2009 guidance and exuded confidence Wednesday that it could maintain steady growth into the next decade.

"It´s safe to say that we are on track to deliver a record growth year for Enbridge," president and CEO Pat Daniel said on a conference call with analysts.

Exxon Mobil takes over UTS Energy tar sand leases

Approximately a year ago, at the outset of the economic crash, the debate became whether or not the economic slow down in the tar sands would be good for tar sands resistance. Some stated that the medium to small players would lose out and that at the other end of the temporary slow down would be mega-energy companies with a strangle hold on production and future leases, leaving our work harder to resist, not easier.

Devon to seek approval for third phase of Jackfish Lake

Devon to seek approval for oilsands project
Company plans third phase of Jackfish Lake

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
November 4, 2009

CALGARY - In another sign the log jam of stalled oilsands projects may be easing, Devon Energy Corp. on Wednesday said it plans to seek approval in 2010 for the third phase of its Jackfish Lake thermal project.

Mackenzie pipeline fiscal talks continue-Imperial

The news was that funding for the pipeline had been killed, and we had at the least a temporary victory over this evil pipeline plan through the Deh Cho valley. This minor but real victory was giving us much needed breathing room away from this pipeline and the backdoor, no-public-input sell out by the WWF, CPAWS and the CBI to promote the Nahanni as a "victory" when it was a sop given by the Feds to allow them to use *our money* to build the MGP.

Farmland will be destroyed [South Dakota tar sands refinery plans]

Farmland will be destroyed

Dean Spader • Vermillion • November 1, 2009

Thank you to the Argus Leader for printing the Oct. 13 My Voice column from James Heisinger pointing out pollution problems at the proposed Hyperion oil refinery in Union County. Heisinger was correct when he wrote that "Hyperion's clean-and-green promises (are) a myth."

Hyperion plans to refine the dirtiest crude oil on the continent (Canadian tar sands crude oil), and as a result, even Hyperion admits that this refinery will release more carbon dioxide per barrel than any other refinery in the nation.

Alberta-Superior pipeline takes center stage in world climate debate (Clipper)

BusinessNorth Exclusives
Alberta-Superior pipeline takes center stage in world climate debate
10/27/2009
by Richard Thomas

On Aug. 20, the U.S. State Department granted a Presidential permit for the 1,000-mile “Alberta Clipper” pipeline from Canada’s Alberta oil sands to Superior, due for completion in mid-2010.

On Sept. 2 Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., the partner of Canada-based Enbridge, celebrated in Carlton County, where the company had stacks of pipes ready for construction.