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.
More BS than Bitumen Flowing From Alberta After Third Recent Spill
by Damien Gillis l The Canadian.ca
A story in yesterday's Edmonton Journal on the latest pipeline spill in Alberta, this one near Elk Point, was more full of crap than the province's rivers and farms are full of oil these days.
Texas Activists Move Toward Tar Sands Blockade
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
By Candice Bernd, Truthout
Texas climate justice activists are prepared to use nonviolent, direct action to block the Keystone XL pipeline's construction.
Despite Spills, Enbridge Pushes For More Oil Sands Pipelines
6/26/2012
Alberta's three oil sand deposits are known as the Athabasca Oil Sands, the Cold Lake Oil Sands, and the Peace River Oil Sands. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
India’s ONGC may bid for $5B Conoco oil sands assets
By Charlie Zhu, Reuters Jun 5, 2012
KUALA LUMPUR — Oil and Natural Gas Corp , India’s biggest state-owned energy explorer, is considering bidding for part of ConocoPhillips Canadian oil sands holdings worth around $5-billion, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Tuesday.
Fort McMurray: Economic centre of Canada?
Claudia Cattaneo Jun 5, 2012
Financial Post
Fort McMurray, economic centre of Canada? Torontonians and the rest of the country had better get used to the idea. The Canadian economy will increasingly spin around the northern Alberta oil town if an industry forecast that shows Canada’s daily volumes will more than double to 6.2 million barrels a day by 2030, largely from the oil sands, proves right.
Canada to be among top three oil producers by 2030
By Yadullah Hussain, Financial Post
June 5, 2012
Canada could emerge as the top three or four oil producer in the world by 2030 thanks to rising oil sands supply, according to an industry forecast which focuses more on the possibilities that lay before the Canadian oil industry rather than its substantial challenges.
Alternative title: "This is why we fight tar sands pipelines."
Oil producers urged to solve pipeline constraints
SHAWN McCARTHY
Ottawa — The Globe and Mail
Jun. 05 2012
Canadian oil producers are facing a pipeline crunch that could limit the industry’s vast development plans as early as 2015, but face a long and increasingly bitter battle to expand their capacity to ship crude to market.
An Oil Industry Witch Hunt in Canada Threatens Us All
Posted: 06/01/2012
Huff Post
Big Oil and the Canadian government are showing their true colors these days, and what an ugly spectacle it is. Not content to squeeze tar sands oil profits from Canada's boreal forest, the industry and the Harper regime are working overtime to squelch free speech in this once-vibrant democracy.
Cenovus plans new technology at oil sands project
Wed May 30, 2012
Reuters
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Cenovus Energy Inc (CVE.TO: Quote) said on Wednesday it won regulatory approval for its third major steam-driven oil sands project, a joint-venture development in which it will test new production technology aimed at getting more tar-like oil out of the ground.
Awed by oil sands, Mulcair calls for more environmental oversight
JOSH WINGROVE
EDMONTON — The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, May. 31 2012
Precisely one thing surprised Thomas Mulcair on his visit to Alberta: the scale of the oil sands.
During his first visit, including a helicopter flight over several oil sands mines, to a region he has criticized, Mr. Mulcair was overwhelmed by the “awe-inspiring” display.
He stopped short, however, of calling the mines dirty.
