Land, regardless of whether covered by forests, tundra or grasslands, is threatened by mining operations such as Alberta’s vast open tar pit operations, or through incredible networks of “right of way” cuts for pipelines that extend in the hundreds of thousands of miles, all told, and across the continent in four directions and to three oceans—either through feeding the tarsand operations with fossil fuel energy or through feeding energy markets from tarsand operations after production. In the case of pipeline right of ways, they can blast directly through mountains or be buried in permafrost if needed, to get the energy to move.
EDMONTON SUN
By NICKI THOMAS, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
A heavily guarded Ed Stelmach served pancakes to a crowd of early risers at yesterday's Premier's Capital Ex Breakfast.
Two weeks after an attempted pie attack at the Calgary Stampede, a beefed-up security team ensured a similar incident wasn't possible.
Plainclothes security staff as well as bicycle cops and uniformed sheriffs kept an eye on the crowd as Stelmach shook hands and spoke with visitors.
Caterpillar's forecast good for names like Churchill and Finning
http://communities.canada.com/nationalpost/blogs/tradingdesk/archive/200...
Weakness in North American construction markets may have driven a weaker-than-expected second quarter at Caterpillar Inc. (CAT/NYSE), but the heavy equipment maker’s positive demand outlook for its products in Canada may bode well for infrastructure companies north of the border.
Conoco has big plans for oil sands
Third-largest U.S. oil firm is willing to pay billions to pump Alberta crude to Gulf Coast refineries
SHAWN MCCARTHY
July 20, 2007
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070720.RCONOCO20/TPSt...
ConocoPhillips Co. is prepared to spend billions of dollars on pipelines and refinery upgrades to allow it to process oil sands crude throughout its refinery network stretching to the U.S. Gulf Coast, company chairman Jim Mulva said yesterday.
The Indpendent UK offers an interesting perspective on the Tar Sands, yet is somewhat delusional from time to time:
"So it is always going to be within Opec's power to pump its cheap-to-extract conventional oil fast enough to drive the price below the marginal cost of extraction from tar sands."
Demand to Outpace Crude Supplies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/16/AR200707...
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
Monday, July 16, 2007; 9:25 PM
WASHINGTON -- Conventional crude oil supplies won't keep up with growing global demand in the next 25 years and other fuels from ethanol to liquefied coal and oil from tar sands will be needed to close the gap, says a draft oil industry report.
Oil from shale could meet need
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/energywatch/oilandgas/features/articl...
By Megan Harris Jul 21, 2007, 0:34 GMT
WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- Technology to draw oil from rock in Rocky Mountain states and other unconventional sources is getting another look from companies and the government as the demand for energy increases and supply tightens, especially in the United States.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=a0fadc90-c1fb-4...
China to expand oilsands presence
July 20, 2007
SHANGHAI (Bloomberg) - China National Petroleum Corp., the nation's largest oil producer, plans to expand its cooperation with Canadian partners on oil sands projects, refuting a company official's comment that it will slow down investment.
Concerns raised at pipeline forum
http://www.sewardindependent.com/c21193.html
Paul Fischer
Seward County residents had another opportunity on July 16 to hear discussion on the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline Project at a pipeline safety forum held at the Seward Civic Center.
The forum, hosted by the GFWC Seward Women's Club, Seward League of Women Voters and Seward Citizens on Pipeline Route Committee, consisted of several speakers-each given the floor for 18 minutes-followed by a question-and-answer period.
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
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.
