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.
Suncor Energy Reports Oil Sands Production Numbers for July 2009
Market Wire
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Aug. 6, 2009) - Suncor Energy Inc. reported today that production at its oil sands facility during July averaged approximately 304,000 barrels per day (bpd). Year-to-date oil sands production at the end of July averaged approximately 292,000 bpd. Suncor is targeting average oil sands production of 300,000 bpd (+5%/-10%) in 2009.
Open letter calls for renegotiating NAFTA and an end to SPP ahead of summit
By Staff
Common Frontiers, a network of church, labour, environmental, and civil society groups, and the Réseau québcois sur l’Intégration continentale have sent the following open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper ahead of his summit next week with U.S president Barack Obama and Mexican president Felipe Calderón in Guadalajara, Mexico:
An Open Letter To Prime Minister Stephen Harper Re: North American Leaders Summit
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
Thousands of homes might have to replace oil furnaces with wood-burning heaters
Northeasterners forced to give up oil heat?
By Steve Milloy Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Northeastern governors may ban home furnaces that burn oil in order to meet greenhouse gas emission limits.
The governors are expected to approve “a blueprint for slashing carbon dioxide from cars — and perhaps home furnaces — by January,” reports ClimateWire.
The tar sands pipeline and Obama’s carbon commitments
August 11, 2009
by Sheila McNulty
The Obama Administration has made a big show about its desire to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
But actions speak louder than words.
Environmentalists want to see the Administration underline its commitment to reduce carbon by rejecting a permit for a pipeline carrying fuel for Canada’s carbon-intensive oil sands into the US.
Canada's dirty oil may disrupt Obama's clean energy plans
August 10
John Guerrerio
Trading our dependence upon 'bloody oil' for 'dirty oil' does not solve the problem.
Catastrophic shortfalls threaten economic recovery, says world's top
energy economist
by Steve Connor, Science Editor
The Independent (August 03 2009)
The world is heading for a catastrophic energy crunch that could cripple a
global economic recovery because most of the major oil fields in the world
have passed their peak production, a leading energy economist has warned.
Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a
stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course,
B.C. launches major stimulus program for oil and gas
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
August 6, 2009
CALGARY - The British Columbia government this morning announced a major stimulus program to kick-start its oil and gas industry, including a package of royalty incentives and legislative changes.
In a statement, the government said the program is designed to produce "immediate economic benefits" for the province.
Canadians want oil sands production cut
Survey respondents also want to see provinces – not just Ottawa – at coming climate-change talks in Copenhagen
Brian Laghi
Globe and Mail
Aug. 03, 2009
Provincial premiers will meet in Regina this week amid new poll results that show a majority of Canadians think oil sands production should be cut as Canada grapples with reducing greenhouse gases.
Global Peak Oil In 10 Years - IEA Sounds Alarm
by Energy Matters bookmark or share this page follow us on twitter
Global peak oil rapidly approaching
In an interview with the UK's The Independent, Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA), sounded an alarm that global oil production is likely to peak in around 10 years; far earlier than most governments had foreseen. The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries, including Australia.
ACFN member climbs flagpole to protest oilsands
Activists call on wife of RBC CEO to help protect communities
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter 05.AUG.09
An Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation member climbed a 50-foot flagpole in downtown Toronto on July 29 to protest the Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) involvement in financing the oilsands.
Eriel Deranger was one of two Rainforest Action Network (RAN) protesters who hung a 30-foot high banner in front of RBC’s Canadian headquarters, calling on the wife of RBC’s CEO to encourage her husband to withdraw financing for new oilsands projects.
