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.
Making sense of the disconnect in oil prices
By Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Herald
August 13, 2009
Oil prices edged over the $70 US per barrel mark again this week, staying at a level where they have spent most of August's trading days. But the relative strength being shown by oil prices is continuing to confound most observers.
Pipeline spokesman says sinkholes filled in Gorge
Aug 14 2009
Associated Press
Grafton, N.D. (AP) A spokesman for the Keystone oil pipeline says crews have finished filling seven sinkholes in the scenic Pembina Gorge that were formed after horizontal drilling to bury pipe.
Spokesman Jeff Rauh says the North Dakota Forest Service and the state Public Service Commission approved the plans for repairing the sinkholes. He says the company will monitor them for about a month.
Officials said earlier the sinkholes were about 40 feet deep.
The Rock's most precious resource
Gordon Pitts
Rushoon, Nfld. — Globe and Mail Aug. 12, 2009
As a 17-year-old with an adventurous spirit, Ann-Marie Cheeseman spent part of last summer driving 40-ton trucks in the Alberta oil sands. She made big money for a Newfoundland teenager, clearing close to $3,000 a week.
But she doesn't want to return to the oil sands, leaving her family and friends in the harbour village of Rushoon on the wild, beautiful Burin Peninsula. “I'd go back to Alberta only if I had to,” she says firmly.
Canada's oil patch open for Chinese business: Flaherty
By Jorge Barrera, the Financial Post
August 10, 2009
Jim Flaherty, Canada's finance minister, speaks at the opening of a Bank of Montreal branch in Beijing, China, on Monday. Canada wants Chinese state-run entities such as China Investment Corp. to consider North American listings.
Jim Flaherty, Canada's finance minister, speaks at the opening of a Bank of Montreal branch in Beijing, China, on Monday. Canada wants Chinese state-run entities such as China Investment Corp. to consider North American listings.
Skidding oil sends Suncor into red
Investors stay focused on $22.5-billion Petro-Canada takeover
Edmonton Journal
July 23, 2009
Suncor Energy sank into the red in the second quarter as skidding oil prices, hedging losses and costs related to project deferrals marred the last reporting period before it closes its $22.5-billion takeover of Petro-Canada.
CEO Rick George said his company will move ahead with major investments after the takeover, and jettison assets by focusing on projects that offer the lowest risk, highest returns and near-term cash flow.
Environmentalists trying to stop sound bombs
Updated: Fri Aug. 14 2009 09:31:54
The Canadian Press
Environmentalists are in Federal Court hoping to block seismic testing that will send high decibel blasts into the ocean off Vancouver Island, possibly harming whales and other marine life in the area.
A U.S. research team wants to investigate the tectonic plates making up the ocean sub-floor around the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents marine protected area, 250 kilometres west of Vancouver Island.
Suncor’s Edmonton refinery suffers processing problem
David Finlayson, edmontonjournal.com
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Black smoke emitted from the Suncor refinery east of Edmonton on August 12, 2009.
EDMONTON - It will take “days not hours” to get Suncor’s Edmonton refinery back to full production after a problem at its hydrogen supplier caused the shutdown of some units for the second time in a month, the company said Thursday.
Members of First Nations along the corridor being discussed have said that such "consultations" should not take place, since they have already indicated an explicit NO to pipelines, tanker traffic, ports and more. Holding these very hearings is a clear VIOLATION of indigenous sovereignty. This position deserves support.
--M
Funding offered for Northern Gateway environmental assessment
By Amelia Bellamy-Royds August 7, 2009 05:25 pm
Developers move ahead with projects
By _Keith McNeill - Clearwater Times_
Published: August 10, 2009 5:00 AM
Run-of-the-river hydro projects have become a hot issue in this province
but three such projects north of Blue River are still going ahead.
According to Canadian Hydro Developers Inc. of Calgary, the proposed Bone
Creek (20 MW), Clemina Creek (9.9 MW) and Serpentine Creek (9.5 MW)
hydroelectric projects together would generate enough to power 21,000 homes if
the homes didn't mind receiving power service only in the spring and early
New pipeline from oilsands
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
11th August 2009
CALGARY -- Inter Pipeline Fund says major construction work has wrapped up on a $1.8-billion expansion to a pipeline that links a major oilsands mine near Fort McMurray to the Edmonton area.
The Calgary-based energy transporter said yesterday it has finished installing 467 km of 42-in. diameter pipeline and 43 km of 20-in. diameter pipeline as part of the Corridor expansion and is $100 million under budget, having "materially eliminated its exposure to cost overrun risk."
