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.
Tar sands' climate threat, security promise both exaggerated -- report
By NATHANIAL GRONEWOLD, Greenwire [NYTimes]
Published: May 22, 2009
NEW YORK -- Further development of Alberta's famous oil sands will be neither the climate disaster that activists fear nor the energy security panacea that proponents suggest it is, the Council on Foreign Relations concludes in a new report.
Groups unhappy with Chevron expansion
May 20, 2009
By Wayne Freedman
There may be a refinery upgrade in Richmond, but if environmental groups have it their way, it may never happen. This is frustrating Chevron.
"Well the whole intent of the project is to help modernize the refinery," said Chevron spokesman Dean O'Hair.
But the intent of lawyers was to delay it. There was wrangling in Superior Court after a ruling rejected an environmental impact report from Chevron and the city of Richmond. The court called it "unclear and inconsistent."
Oil sands crucial to energy mix: Imperial CEO
By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial PostMay 15, 2009
Canwest News Service
CALGARY -- Canada’s oil sands represent such a large part of the remaining world oil resources it’s unrealistic to exclude them from North America’s future energy mix, said the CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd.
Despite a push to stop or contain their development, Bruce March said Alberta’s deposits represent 40% of known oil resources in the world that are not under the control of national oil companies.
PUC extends deadline for filing in pipeline case
Published May 21 2009
The state Public Utilities Commission has extended a deadline to apply for party status in a case involving an oil pipeline in western South Dakota, but did not extend the deadline as much as one advocacy group requested.
Dakota Rural Action had requested that the PUC extend the deadline to file for party status to June 10, almost a month past the original deadline of May 11. The PUC on Wednesday announced it will extend the deadline, but only until May 31.
By: Austin Kaus, The Daily Republic
Guujaaw, President, Council of the Haida Nation
May 19 2009
To: John Carruthers
President of Enbridge "Northern Gateway Pipeline"
In response to your letter dated April 29th.
You have invited us to attend a meeting in Kitimat on June 18 and 19, "to guide
the design, construction, and operations of the proposed project".
This project that you are proposing would necessitate the movement of tankers
through these waters on a daily basis, which of course, is of concern to us.
We are a people who depend on the health and well-being of the seas around us.
Hamm, producers try to combat a new concern in oil industry
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
May 03, 2009
The United States has been concerned for many years about the influx of foreign oil, mostly from the Middle East into the United States. But now, a new concern from Canada is beginning to worry some oil producers, and, led by Enid’s Harold Hamm, they are taking steps to fight it.
Natives, environmentalists assail proposed Enbridge oil pipeline to Kitimat
May 6, 2009
TORONTO — First nations and environmental activists say the oil industry is trying for an end run around U.S. concerns about oilsands pollution and will trample on native lands with Enbridge Inc.'s (TSX:ENB) proposed pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast.
A small group journeyed from British Columbia to the pipeline company's annual meeting Wednesday in Toronto to protest against the Northern Gateway project.
*News Release:*
* *
*Statoil in trouble with major investors over its tar sands involvement*
* *
13 May 2009 (Oslo, Norway) — Four major investors are putting pressure on
Statoil to withdraw from the tar sands, Greenpeace has learned.
Danske Bank has expressed its opposition to the contentious project while
Norway’s largest bank, DnBNOR, is holding meetings today to discuss whether
continued involvement in the Alberta tar sands is a sound investment.
In addition, prominent Statoil stakeholders, Folksam, a Swedish insurance
National Energy Board schedules a hearing on Keystone XL pipeline project
CALGARY, May 12 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (NEB) has scheduled an
oral hearing on an application from TransCanada Keystone Pipeline GP Ltd.
(Keystone) to construct and operate the Canadian portion of its proposed
Keystone XL pipeline project.
The hearing is scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:00
a.m. at a location to be determined.
The proposed project is a crude oil line that would run from Alberta to
Crude oil leak at Burnaby Mountain tank contained: Kinder Morgan
May 7, 2009 |
CBC News
Some Burnaby residents awoke to the strong smell of oil fumes after about 200,000 litres of crude oil spilled from a storage tank on Burnaby Mountain on Wednesday night.
The leak at the Kinder Morgan tank farm just east of Vancouver was spotted at about 10 p.m. by a contractor, the company said. The oil was captured in a lined containment bay surrounding the tank, and there were no leaks into the surrounding environment, the company said.
