Peak Oil is starting to be understood across a broad spectrum, but the direct connection between peak oil, climate change and the American market-led attempt to squeeze all energy out of Alberta cannot be overstated. The smaller the global supply of oil gets, the more CO2 has been emitted and the more climate change will have advanced. This leads to more interest in the tar sands—because the profit margin goes ever higher the fewer alternatives there are for petroleum. Without Peak Oil bearing down on humanity, no economical reason would exist to produce this energy intensive, low-output petrol.
Why geosequestration is another distraction
Posted by JMG at 12:37 PM on 18 Jun 2007
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/6/17/223950/134
The July/August 2007 issue of World Watch magazine (produced by the Worldwatch Institute) includes a concise demolition of carbon geosequestration in the form of a letter to the editor by one Luc Gagnon, "a senior advisor on climate change for Hydro-Quebec."
As the first new refinery in the US for 30 years was announced recently, it is worthy to note the number of new ones that are planned for the future increase in tar sands production. They are needed, since the US sees the tarsands as "domestic" production.
--M
US refinery demand for Canadian crude to double by 2015: CAPP
BY JUDY MONCHUK, CP
CALGARY (CP) _ U.S. refinery demand for western Canadian crude oil is projected to almost double by 2015, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says in its annual outlook.
After Venezuela, ConocoPhillips May Redouble Canada Efforts
June 26, 2007: 03:37 PM EST
CALGARY -(Dow Jones)- Venezuela's intransigence on its challenging crude-oil projects may send ConocoPhillips' (COP) into the arms of Canada's oil sands.
Venezuela confirmed Tuesday that ConocoPhillips would exit the Orinico river basin, home to ventures that produce low-quality, or heavy, oil, after the Houston-based energy company refused the terms covering a new ownership structure for its projects. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) also said it wasn't able to reach agreement with Venezuela.
The American Conservative movement has started to embrace and defend the tar sands. Delightful to see, considering article like the one below are always a reflection of effectiveness, even if they portend to belittle the very effectiveness we are starting to have.
--M
Tar sands: More oil than Saudi Arabia
Posted: June 16, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56206
China leases a bit of Alberta's oil patch
State-owned CNPC buys rights to develop oil sands properties
NORVAL SCOTT
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070622.RCNPC22/TPStor...
June 22, 2007
EDMONTON -- In a possible first step toward becoming a producer of Canadian crude, the Chinese National Petroleum Corp., China's largest oil company, revealed yesterday that it has acquired some land in Alberta, with the intention to eventually develop an oil sands project if possible.
Canada oil sands lure global majors
Published: Thursday, 21 June, 2007, 01:45 AM Doha Time
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=156432...
FORT MCMURRAY, Canada: With world oil prices hovering at near nine-month highs and global energy firms flush with cash, analysts are predicting that control of Canada’s booming oil sands sector could soon fall into foreign hands.
Foreign bids worth tens of billions dollars are expected in the coming years as global oil companies look for new opportunities, say analysts.
How Wars of the Future May Be Fought ...
Just to Run the Machines That Fight Them
by Michael T Klare
WorkingForChange (June 14 2007)
Sixteen gallons of oil. That's how much the average American soldier in
Iraq and Afghanistan consumes on a daily basis - either directly,
through the use of Humvees, tanks, trucks, and helicopters, or
indirectly, by calling in air strikes. Multiply this figure by 162,000
soldiers in Iraq, 24,000 in Afghanistan, and 30,000 in the surrounding
region (including sailors aboard US warships in the Persian Gulf) and
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
June 14, 2007 Thursday 5:26 PM GMT
SECTION: BUSINESS NEWS
Texas firm plans nation's first new oil refinery in over 30 years
By DIRK LAMMERS, Associated Press Writer
ELK POINT S.D.
Thousands of acres of farmland in the southeastern tip of South Dakota could become
home to the nation's first new oil refinery since 1976.
Hyperion Resources Inc., a privately held Dallas-based energy company, is
considering Elk Point and several other Midwest sites for the $8 billion refinery,
Enbridge CEO on what's wrong with Canada's DNA
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070611.RDANIEL11/TPSt...
GORDON PITTS
June 11, 2007
CALGARY -- Patrick Daniel has the classic CV of an energy CEO - prairie upbringing, strong engineering education, and a varied career amid the cycles of the oil patch. Now 60 and head of pipeline giant Enbridge Inc., he is a critical link in the supply chain between Canada's oil producers and major North American markets. Mr. Daniel talks about this role, and the challenges in pushing Canadian thinking beyond this continent.
Such damage control is very important to undertake, especially when sea-changes in public opinion are underway as they are. Many of the "inconvenient spew" of this articles "talking points" are ridiculous. The suggestion that "Americans" have asked for tarsands to be ramped up would convince me if I thought that the average American knew where the Tarsands even were, let alone that he or she wants more from them.
This is, bottom line, proof we are getting somewhere. Let's keep moving; where we are coming from holds nothing.
--M
Oilsands gain a dirty name
