Alberta Tar Sands is a category limited to the location and production of tar sand bitumen, an area the size of the state of Florida in northern Alberta province. The giant processing plants near Fort McMurray where the land itself is strip mined as well as the primarily "in situ" in-ground steam separation/production and extraction plants in the Peace and Cold Lake Regions, all in Alberta, are the "Ground Zero" of the single largest industrial gigaproject ever proposed in human history.
The process of removing the tar from the sand involves incredible amounts of energy from clean-burning natural gas (with nuclear proposed along side), tremendous capital costs during build up, incredibly high petroleum prices to protect investments, and the largest single industrial contribution to climate change in North America. Production also involves the waste of fresh water from nearby lakes, rivers and aquifers that have already created toxic tailing ponds visible from outer space. None of the land strip mined has yet to be certified as reclaimed. It takes 4 tonnes of soil to produce one barrel of oil. The tar sands are producing over 1.2 million barrels of oil a day on average. The oil companies, Canada and the United States governments are proposing to escalate production to 5 million barrels, almost all destined for American markets-- and lower environmental standards while doing so. They also would need to violate the national and human rights of many indigenous nations who are rightly concerned about many dire social, environmental and economic repercussions on their communities.
To get the needed energy supplies, diluent for the bitumen and diverted freshwater to produce and then to transport the flowing heavy bitumen for refining would require massive new infrastructure and pipeline building from three different time zones in the Arctic, across British Columbia and through Alberta in a criss-cross pattern, into pipelines to such destinations as California, China, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ontario, Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas. This entire project is now estimated at over $170 billion dollars. And after the whole process described so far, only then will all this dirty petroleum get burned and expel greenhouse gasses into the air causing further climate change.
Oil sands toxins growing rapidly
Volume of arsenic, lead increased 26 per cent in last four years, Environment Canada says
Nathan VanderKlippe
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Aug. 09, 2010
Canada’s oil sands mining operations produce vast and fast-growing quantities of deadly substances, including mercury, heavy metals and arsenic, new data released by Environment Canada shows.
Suncor Energy reports oil sands production numbers for July 2010
CALGARY, ALBERTA, Aug 05, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Suncor Energy Inc. reported today that the company's oil sands production during July averaged approximately 322,000 barrels per day (bpd). Year-to-date oil sands production at the end of July averaged approximately 260,000 bpd. Suncor is targeting average oil sands production of 280,000 bpd (+/- 5%) in 2010.
Oilsands boost CNRL earnings
President calls Calgary firm's results 'stunning'
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald August 6, 2010
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. on Thursday credited its growing oilsands production for significantly higher second quarter financial and operating results that handily beat analyst expectations.
Anti-oilsands advertisements
Calgary Herald
August 9, 2010 2:06 AM
-Before watching the Rethink Alberta video, 54 per cent of Britons and 49 per cent of Americans said they would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
-After watching the video, only 24 per cent of Britons and 26 per cent of Americans would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
Groups challenge plans for Utah tar sands mine
By Steven Oberbeck
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 27, 2010 11:12PM
A small Canadian company, in need of millions for its ambitious plans, also is facing stiff opposition from two Utah environmental groups that are trying to thwart its efforts to build one of the first commercial tar sand mines in the country.
Earth Energy Resources, based in Calgary, Alberta, received approval a year ago from the staff of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to begin working a 62-acre deposit on the Uintah County-Grand County line.
Alberta Hides Dirty Truth as US Demands Tar Sands Facts
Potential buyers of tar sands oil want to know its true carbon footprint, but industry won't come clean.
By Andrew Nikiforuk,
July 29, 2010
TheTyee.ca
Tar sands are 82 per cent more polluting than average crude, estimates US government, but Canada doesn't keep track.
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.
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.
Proposed rules for oilsands water-removal inadequate: First Nations
Wants Athabasca protected during low flow
By Hanneke Brooymans,
edmontonjournal.com
July 23, 2010
EDMONTON — First Nations in northeastern Alberta have problems with a proposed management system for the Athabasca River that would allow oilsands operators to withdraw water during critical times of low flows.
The recommended water-withdrawal rules were released earlier this year and have since been reviewed l by the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations.
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.
