Economics

This story, a small community of desperately poor people who at first will welcome tar sand extraction as a possible panacea against the ravages of historical colonialism and modern poverty, is not a new one. The location is, however, and it signifies a new escalation in tarsand production. It is interesting noting their concerns about capacity in pipes that already exist in Alberta. The possibility of building the infrastructure in Saskatchewan will add another massive dimension to what is already the largest such project in the history of the Earth.

Wildcat growth in oil patch begins to trouble Albertans
Review finds many want the pace slowed
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070411.RALBERTANS11/T...
DAVID EBNER

CALGARY -- The oil sands boom that's brought billions of dollars to Alberta has also brought anxiety to a significant number of citizens, some of whom are questioning the rapid pace of development as the provincial government nears the end of a long oil sands review.

Enbridge in race to move oil south to the U.S. Gulf Coast
http://communities.canada.com/nationalpost/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/200...

Enbridge Inc. will likely take the acquisition route as opposed to building from greenfield in its race with other Canadian pipeliners planning ways to move Alberta crude south to the U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC), according to Desjardins analyst Daniel Shteyn.

"We view M&A as the most likely, given cost and speed to market, and believe Enbridge will be the ultimate winner in this particular race." he said in a research note.

No new campgrounds in McMurray, council rules

By LARISSA LIEPINS
Today staff
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/300068.html
Thursday April 12, 2007
Any future campgrounds in Wood Buffalo must be located outside the urban area, and they must “allow for year-round operation.”
Regional council made the decision Tuesday following a heated debate over whether the move will attract even more transient workers to the boomtown.

At the risk of antagonizing a staff reporter at the Vancouver Sun, it is worth noting that this same Don Cayo has written hit pieces against the brave youth and elders from the Tahltan communities who have joined up to resist the massive expansion into their territories of all forms of industrial development, from oil and gas (in particular coal bed methane) to gold and coal mining and even a massive hydro-electric dam.

Shell reserves show shift from oil to gas
Mon Apr 2, 2007 11:51AM BST
Reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/article/stocksNews/idUKNOA23899520070402
By Tom Bergin

LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell pumped twice as much oil as it
found last year, forcing the company to rely on traditionally
lower-margin natural gas and oil sands to boost its reserves.

Figures issued on Monday echoed a trend across the industry as resource
holders increasingly shun the oil majors.

A spokesman said on Monday that Shell's reserve replacement ratio (RRR)

Friday, February 02, 2007
Is the return of the Gateway oil pipeline in the cards?
While the Gateway oil pipeline is officially considered to be a project to be considered at a later date, there are some rumblings that the later date may soon be upon us.

Former Premier Ralph Klein warns of health backlash

By RENATO GANDIA
Today staff
Thursday April 05, 2007
http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/Local%20News/298912.html

VANCOUVER -- Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is quick to admit he didn’t have a plan to fix the blistering effects of the oilsands boom on the strained infrastructure of Fort McMurray and other parts of Alberta.
But he’s not as forthcoming about the reason.

Before you read on to the article below, I thought I would help to arm the reader with this link to some financial reports from Syncrude: "Selected annual financial information"

http://cos-ar.beta.zu.com/annual_report/2006/html/discussion_analysis/se...

...so with those numbers in your head and a secret plan (not a proposal) to quintuple production almost exclusively to feed US markets' rapacious needs well known to Jim Carter of Syncrude, then see what the concerns really are.

--Macdonald

Enbridge eyes Gulf route
Demand growing; Buying assets seen as better plan than building pipeline
Jon Harding, Financial Post
Published: Thursday, April 05, 2007

CALGARY - Enbridge Inc. is accelerating plans to satisfy a growing thirst for Canadian crude among refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast and would rather buy existing assets in the United States than build a $4-billion direct pipeline link between Alberta and Texas.