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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Sunoco idles NJ Refinery, plans to expand Philadelphia

Sunoco Announces Strategic Actions to Strengthen Competitive Position; Idles Eagle Point Refinery, Reduces Quarterly Dividend to $0.15 Per Share
Tue Oct 6, 2009 4:01pm EDT
PHILADELPHIA--(Business Wire)--

Sunoco, Inc. (NYSE:SUN) announced today it is indefinitely idling all process
units at its Eagle Point refinery located in Westville, New Jersey in an effort
to reduce losses in its refining business at a time when a recessionary economy,
weak demand for refined products, and increased global refining capacity have

"Don't react as protesters want" -- corporate spin on recent actions against tar sands

This unsigned editorial is not in the slightest endorsed by this website, but reproduced for your information.

-M

Don't react as protesters want
Edmonton Journal
October 7, 2009

How should industry, government and ordinary Albertans deal with Greenpeace protesters trying to put a spotlight on an industry they view as an environmental crime?

Demand their arrest?Ignore them? Maybe even learn from them?

Northern Alberta economy braces for next boom

Northern Alberta economy braces for next boom
By Archie McLean, Canwest News Service
October 3, 2009

The economic slowdown has been good for Fort McMurray. But with things picking up again in the oilsands, many wonder if they’re prepared to weather the next boom.

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — In recent years, simply treating employees well wasn't enough to keep them serving customers in Fort McMurray.

Reaching far and wide for workers

Reaching far and wide for workers
Canada broadens scope to alleviate skills shortage

By Derek Sankey, For the Calgary Herald
July 25, 2008

The new reality for Canadian companies looking to recruit workers increasingly means casting a wider net across the world while government and education leaders lead the charge overseas in the face of economic restraints.

Suncor takes Greenpeace to court

Here's the latest - Suncor is suing Greenpeace for disrupting its
operations last week.

(BTW - it is absolutely outrageous that the reporter (or his editor)
is linking the tar sands actions to the Encana gas pipeline bombings
in this article, with the inference being GP is somehow connected to
the bombings.)

Suncor takes Greenpeace to court - $1.5M lawsuit comes after protest at mine

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary HeraldOctober 9, 2009 9:08 PM

CALGARY - Environmental protesters say they will continue to target

"Imperial welcomes regulator move on Arctic gas line"

Imperial welcomes regulator move on Arctic gas line

Vancouver Sun
NEWS SERVICES
OCTOBER 8, 2009

Imperial Oil Ltd. welcomed word from Canadian regulators on Thursday that
final arguments in the review of the $16.2-billion Mackenzie gas pipeline
are set for April, but it could not say if the timeline would allow
construction in 2010.

Imperial, lead partner in the long-delayed Arctic gas project, said the
National Energy Board's announcement of the date adds some certainty to
the process that began with its application to build the pipeline five
years ago.

'H2Oil' Tears up the Tar Sands

Documentary focusing on Fort Chipewyan becomes a powerful tool for climate change activists.

By Dawn Paley, October 8, 2009, TheTyee.ca

When Lionel Lepine's plane landed in London, England in August after a long flight from northern Alberta, his initial reaction was culture shock. It was Lepine's first time flying overseas. The occasion was the Climate Camp for Action, an event now in its third year, which brings together hundreds of grassroots activists who are willing to take direct action in the fight against climate change.

Behold! Canada's most disgusting export

Behold! Canada's most disgusting export
Nothing like Alberta's's revolting oilsands to destroy your optimism
By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Are you having one of those days? One of those moments where you feel like you've endured a simply relentless onslaught of negative news and economic hardship coupled to endless rounds of cretinous politicians -- all of whom enjoy fully paid health care on your tab -- debating whether or not you'll be able to afford to see a doctor ever again, all to the point where you say, you know what? I need just one more.

Enbridge to raise cost estimate on Pacific pipeline [Gateway]

Enbridge to raise cost estimate on Pacific pipeline
Tue Oct 6, 2009

CALGARY, Alberta, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO) expects to raise the cost estimate for the Northern Gateway pipeline, last pegged at around C$4 billion ($3.77 billion), when it seeks approvals for the oil sands export line later this year, it said on Tuesday.

Millions at stake in tar sands financial books dispute

Millions at stake in oilsands dispute

By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald
October 2, 2009

Up to $100 million could be at stake this year in a dispute between the Alberta government and oilsands giants Suncor and Syncrude, according to auditor general Fred Dunn.

In his semi-annual report released Friday, Dunn said there's an ongoing tussle regarding whether the two long-lived oilsands operators can use a lower price for bitumen in their royalty calculations.