Social Impacts

Pipeline leak deals blow to Canada’s oil sands industry
By Bernard Simon in Toronto
Financial Times
Published: July 29 2010

Canada’s oil sands industry was trying to defuse a fresh public relations headache on Thursday after a ruptured pipeline spilled about 4m litres of Alberta crude into waterways in southern Michigan.

Lisa Jackson, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said that “this is a serious spill that has the potential to damage a vital waterway and threatens public health”.

New Suncor 'coming together'

$480M profit trounces forecasts one year after merger

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald; Postmedia News
July 30, 2010

The new Suncor is starting to jell a year after its blockbuster merger with Petro-Canada, its chief executive said Thursday after the company marked a return to second-quarter profitability.

"I really feel like the team is coming together," CEO Rick George told analysts.

Enbridge Pipeline break hits U.S., Canada refineries
Mon Jul 26, 2010

HOUSTON, July 26 (Reuters) - An oil pipeline break in Michigan on Monday shut part of a system carrying Canadian crude oil to the U.S. Midwest and southern Canada, Enbridge Energy Partners (EEP.N) said.

No one was hurt, but about 19,500 barrels of oil was released into a creek that then carried the oil into the Kalamazoo River, an Enbridge news release said. Crews with skimming equipment were responding.

Enbridge hoped to have the line repaired and restarted by Wednesday, a spokesman said.

An ill wind in oil country

A heavy smell of tar hangs over this hamlet, and when people and animals got sick, some residents began to make a stink of their own
Josh Wingrove

From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Jul. 24, 2010

Richard Langer never wanted attention. If the 72-year-old had his way, he would have stayed quietly on his ranch forever. It's where he was born, where he has raised a family and made his living.

Crews battle out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray
Jennifer Earl-King and Grant Farhall
Jul 25, 2010

More than 40 firefighters, five helicopters and air tankers continue to battle an out-of-control blaze in northern Alberta.

It's been burning since Saturday about 80 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray.

There has been some concern about the safety of workers at Firebag, a Suncor Energy site, which is only 13 kilometres away from the fire.

Wildfire information officer Rob Harris tells 660News there's no need to evacuate the area.

What Those Who Killed the Tar Sands Report Don't Want You to Know

Why did a parliamentary committee suddenly destroy drafts of a final report on tar sands pollution? Here's what they knew.

By Andrew Nikiforuk, 15 Jul 2010,
TheTyee.ca
Shredder

Shredded: Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development abruptly cancelled tar sands report.

CPPIB buys Laricina stake, extends oil sands foray
2010-07-06
By Pav Jordan

TORONTO, July 6 (Reuters) - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board extended its foray into Canada's oil and gas sector on Tuesday, buying a 17.1 percent stake in closely held Calgary oil sands company Laricina Energy Ltd.

The CPPIB, which invests surplus cash from the national Canada Pension Plan, has some C$127 billion ($121 billion) in assets under management. The board paid C$250 million, or C$30 each, to acquire more than 8.3 million common shares of Laricina in a private placement.

Ophir to Acquire Interest in Madagascar Block
Ophir Energy plc
|
Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Ophir has entered into an agreement with Wilton Petroleum to acquire an 80% interest and Operatorship of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) over an area designated as the Marovoay Block 2102, onshore Madagascar.

The Block 2102 lies in the coastal area of northwest Madagascar covering an area in excess of 12,000km2. The PSC was awarded to Wilton following a competitive licensing round in 2006.

Madagascar: Heavy Oil Promises a Bright Future for this Island Country
~July 17 2010

Pretty soon, the world’s fourth-largest island off the southeastern coast of Africa will be known more for heavy oil than it is known for the ring-tailed lemur. Experts estimate that out of the 600,000 square miles that make up Madagascar, half of the island is covered by the heavy oil-rich sedimentary basins of Morondava, Majunga and Ambilobe.

Total expands oil sand holdings

July 12, 2010

CALGARY, Alberta, July 12 (UPI) -- French energy company Total is looking to expand its holdings in oil sands through a $1 billion deal to tap into Alberta, Canada, recent transactions show.

Total is expanding its portfolio in Alberta's tar sands through a $1 billion bid for UTS Energy of Calgary, the Financial Times reports.

Alberta assets held by UTS Energy are estimated at more than 3 billion barrels of oil, the report adds.