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.
Strike threat looms over booming oilsands
http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/15812.cfm
By The Canadian Press - For Business Edge
Published: 07/13/2007
The looming threat of Alberta's first trades strike in 25 years could slow construction in the booming oilsands, ultimately harming the province's reputation as a reliable investment climate, observers say.
Sign of the times
Airlines report heavy travel from Newfoundland to Alberta
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=45096&sc=79 [St John's Nfld]
PETER WALSH
The Telegram
Canada’s major airlines are reporting brisk business this summer on flights from Newfoundland to Alberta.
WestJet added the province’s only non-stop flight from St. John’s to Calgary this summer.
Rival Air Canada says its Newfoundland to Alberta services introduced in 2006 are “popular” again this year. Neither airline would release specific numbers, but both say business on the routes is going well.
Canada, China: A Pipeline to Oil Sands Expertise
July 16, 2007 19 03 GMT
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=292359
Summary
PetroChina announced July 12 that it is quitting a pipeline project that would transport oil derived from Alberta's oil sands to British Columbia. China never intended to build the pipeline, since what it really sought was the know-how Canadian oil sand producers have acquired over the years.
Analysis
A great article and summation, though I believe that author Swanson is a tad too optimistic to suggest that the project looks dead. The plans for moving heavy bitumen [et al] to other markets-- with the US most likely demanding to be the first ones considered-- must happen in phases, because the recoverability/daily oil-producing capacity cannot be tripled overnight.
This article is a great glimpse, yet it seems to tell us that certain market players throughout the US are less able to predict the future of oil recoverability and capacity than the rest of the population. The line: "The industry is also gambling that oil prices will stay high. If they collapse, expensive oil-sands projects may not pay off." is the needed throw-in to make people not embrace the Peak Oil reality we are already at the start of.
A clip from the entire article below:
"Mr. Stelmach said the province's decision to sign a special immigration deal with Ottawa earlier this year is part of that strategy. The agreement is expected to make it easier and faster for immigrants to settle in the province by cutting red tape. It will also give the province more control over selecting skilled immigrants."
Approximately only a month ago the first new refinery in decades was announced to be under construction in the lower 48 states. This is not to be the last, as the absolutely unparalleled growth of the tarsands is leaving bottle neck-like conditions for transporting the sludge-then-crude-then petrol through the refining processes across Turtle Island. Husky will no doubt go along with some of the foreseen upgrading of facilities, rather than worry about an entirely new refinery. It's all a part of the largest project in history.
--M
Husky on the prowl for refining capacity
When Royal Dutch Shell recently bought out Shell Canada, the world's most notorious oil corporation became directly involved in many of the world's most deadly plans for the environment, social rights and indigenous self-determination. In northern British Columbia, RD Shell has inherited an exploration permit to look in the sacred headwaters of the Nass, Skeena and the Stikine rivers for Coalbed Methane, perhaps the single worst water damaging form of gas extraction that has been linked to stillbirths in animals and humans nearby.
Enbridge still online with Gateway project
Jul 12, 2007 06:31 PM
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/235384
Dina O'Meara
Canadian press
CALGARY–Enbridge Inc. was taken by surprise Thursday by comments PetroChina, its major partner in an ambitious Alberta to British Columbia pipeline, was pulling out of the $3-billion project.
"We have not discussed CNPC's comments with them," spokesperson Glenn Herchak told The Canadian Press. "So it would not be appropriate to comment."
http://www.isa.org/InTechTemplate.cfm?Section=InTech_Home1&template=/Con...
InTech Home InTech Home
12 July 2007
Refineries retrofit for goop and gunk
Some oil companies are staking much of their future on the gunky oil that comes out of Canada’s oil sands. Automation has a piece of this action.
The Wall Street Journal reported the first crude from the Albertan oil sands reached the giant Cushing, Okla., pipeline hub last year.
