Major oil company and other tar sands oil interests are attacking climate and clean energy policies in the united states and elsewhere. Canadian oil sands, a clear understanding of the contribution of oil sands development to the us economy in terms of jobs, economic growth and energy security will hopefully inform the public debate. The pembina institute oil sands fever vii oil sands fever until recently the oil sands were a vast but largely inaccessible resource. For too long the oil sands has been seen as albertas dirty secret. The environmental consequences of bitumen extraction from oil sands deposits are at the center of north american natural resource and energy. Dirty oil and the future of a country policy options. Albertas wildlife death toll on the rise iowa tar sands. Canadian policymakers and global oil markets will directly shape the oil sands development, but because the united states is the natural destination for many oil sands products, u. The book is, in essence, a revolting, blushmaking case for canada to develop. Canada oil sands capital exodus imperils future development.
This difficulttofind resource has made canada the numberone supplier of oil to the united states, and every major oil company. Dirty oil and the future of a continent, nikiforuk offers a scathing critique of what he calls the corporate greed and regulatory indifference that have attended development of canadas vast oil patch. Dan woynillowicz, pembina institute, oil sands fever the environmental implications of anadas oil sand rush, 2005, p. Andrew nikiforuk argues that the continued existence of the alberta oil sands projects is a cynical gamble. Though the canadian oil sands may have been overlooked in recent years, due to the impressive story of north american tight oil growth, their massive bitumen deposits still comprise a major portion of the worlds crude resources. The future of the canadian oil sands growth potential of a unique resource amidst regulation, egress, cost, and price uncertainty.
The future of the canadian oil sands growth potential of. Crude oil produced from these tar sands is one of the worlds dirtiest and most environmentally destructive sources of fuel. Furthermore, if canada lets oil production expand as expected, global emissions could increase by 50 to 150 million tons co 2 by 2030 the equivalent of putting as many as 32 million cars on the road each year. Mitchell, to recognize literary achievement by calgary authors. Bitumen bitumen is oil that is too heavy or thick to flow or be pumped without being diluted or heated. The perspective offers little recognition of 3 saudi arabia currently burns more than three million barrels a day, almost a third of its total oil production. And it has been made so over the past decade by the explicit policies of the federal conservative party which has been in power. Dirty oil and the future of a continent lays bare the idiocy of this malignant neglect. Oil shale projects threaten utahtar sands projects will smear utahoil and gas fracking running amok in utahreports of the consequences of global climate change have become a daily occurrence.
Can unconventional oil resources bridge the energy gap. But beyond the caustic descriptions of one of the worlds biggest oil. When oil sand thicker than 3 m is above the ground or buried at a depth of less than 75 m, openmine production is commonly used. Ca august 2016 global energy demand 202040 global energy demand is predicted to increase 32% by 2040. There were 12,437,500 households reported in the 2006 canadian census. Oil sands and its future 31st capl conference september 30, 2009 1 oil sands and its future 31st capl conference negotiating the road ahead lake louise, alberta september 30, 2009 bob dunbar 121 photo source.
Capp set out to create a trusted, easytoread tool that was formatted so employees could use it. Introduction to oil sands industry character a powerful source of energy moving us, heating us and creating jobs, canadas oil sands benefit all canadians. February 2016 the future of the canadian oil sands. Four years ago, andrew nikiforuk wrote a remarkable book entitled tar sands. By aaron gehrke killing in the name of big oil, the tar sands operations happening in canada will result in a catastrophic death toll, of wildlife, this year.
Dirty oil and the future of a continent by andrew nikiforuk. Winner of the prestigious rachel carson environment book award. Tar sands documents the economic and environmental inefficiency of transforming tar into oil with todays technology. Openmine production has evolved from using wheel excavators and convey belts to using giant electric forklifts and transport trucks. A new sei analysis finds that most of the countrys existing major oil sands projects are resilient to a decline in oil prices, and are thus likely to be locked in. The future of the oil sands came into question with the election of u. Winner of the 2009 rachel carson environment book award, from the societ. As oil prices continue to reach record highs, the search for new sources of energy has led the world to alberta, canada, and its vast oil sands. This difficulttofind resource has made canada the numberone supplier of oil to the united states, and every. This understanding is crucial as the petroleum industry. Proved oil and ngl reserves of top global oil companies 201120 gazproms of crude oil reserves in russia by region 20142018 total proved oil reserves in australia 20102018. More down to earth at least literally is tar sands. Its thick and sticky like peanut butter and theres lots of it.
View the article pdf and any associated supplements and figures for a. The longest river on the continent and the route of the lewis and clark. The sand includes a mixture of clay, sand, and water that is saturated with a form of petroleum called bitumen which is extremely viscous and dense. Ever since their beginning, the tar sands oil drilling, processing, and distributing have been one of the most alarming environmental issues to face the world. Oil sands undermine longterm clean energy security tar sands invasion. Syncrude canada limited bob dunbar strategy west inc. Calgary based journalist and author andrew nikiforuk delivers a powerful and revealing presentation based on his book of the same name on what is. The city of calgary established this prize, in honour of renowned calgary writer w. Canadian energy research institute the impacts of canadian. The exodus of international players from canadas costly oil sands is raising fresh doubt over future development prospects for the worlds third. Oil sands refer to unconventional petroleum deposit. Tar sands pipelines safety risks insideclimate news. Andrew nikiforuk is canadas leading muckraker about canadas most controversial muck. The oil sands, which would feed the keystone xl pipeline, have created thousands of jobs in canadas alberta province, and the extraction industry has tripled in size since 1995.
Growth potential of a unique resource amidst regulation, egress, cost, and price uncertainty 2 acknowledgements i would like to thank bassam fattouh for suggesting that i write on such a broad and interesting topic. Dirty oil and the future of a continent greystone books, 2010. His awardwinning book called for a national debate on the pace and scale of bitumen production and its. After advancements in technology significantly improved the economics of oil sands production, government and industry implemented an ambitious strategy in 1995. Climate change makes an important contribution on a subject that will be central to energy and climate debates. Debunking the myths and confronting the realities by john podesta june 23, 2010, 9. Dirty oil and the future of a continent the city of calgary w. Tar sands critically examines the frenzied development in the canadian tar sands and the farreaching implications for all of north america. Today, energy companies in canada are actively developing this dirty fuel. History of development, prospects for the future summary when it comes to future reliable oil supplies, canadas oil sands will likely account for a greater share of u.
Some indigenous peoples in the region have expressed concern over the cumulative effects of oil sands development. Concerned about their massive investments, tar sands oil interests are trying to undermine fuel standards, fuel purchasing provisions and other clean. Andrew nikiforuk and chris turner prism university of calgary. Some bitumen is found within the majority is deeper underground. The levels of carbondioxide in our atmosphere are at historic highs and exceeding the predictions of the worlds top climatologists. The facts on oil sands is designed to give employees fast, easy, reliable facts about the oil sands industry so they are better prepared to discuss industry issues with internal or external audiences.
Obama has stated that he is eager for the united states to pursue clean energy initiatives, and oil produced from oil sands is certainly not clean. The oil sands are a huge benefit to the canadian economy. The georgia straight the alberta tar sands could make canada the worlds second greatest oil exporter by 2050. Dirty oil and the future of a continent, revised and updated edition nikiforuk, andrew on. Salameh, in reference module in earth systems and environmental sciences, 2015. Oil sands account for about 46% of canadas total oil production and oil. The new york times an astonishingly entertaining read that raises your hackles while raising your awareness. Calgary based journalist and author andrew nikiforuk delivers a powerful and revealing presentation based on his book of the same name on what is really going on with the alberta tar sands. The government of canada is working directly with indigenous communities in and around the oil sands region to address and manage the impacts of development. Caineng zou, in unconventional petroleum geology second edition, 2017. Growth in the canadian oil sands an ihs cera special report workshop participants cera hosted a series of workshops and meetings providing an opportunity for oil sands stakehold. Andrew nikiforuk is tyees first writer in residence the.
Recoverable unconventional oil resources are estimated at 636 bb made up of 173 bb of tar sands oil reserves in canada, 270 bb of extraheavy oil and bitumen reserves in venezuela, 160 bb of oil shale worldwide and 33 bb of shale oil in the united states. Bitumen, the sticky stuff that ancients used to glue the tower of babel together, is the worlds most expensive hydrocarbon. Dirty oil and the future of a continent, revised and. In the last 15 years this has changed dramatically. It is composed of loose sands or sandstone that is partially consolidated. Oil sands oil sands are a natural mixture of sand, water, clay, and bitumen. Yes, the canadian economy has been made dependent on the oil sands of alberta. Utah oil shale and tar sands development utah chapter. The dirty truth about tar sands keynote speech for canada 2020s greening the oil sands. Dirty oil and the future of a continent by andrew nikiforuk for the better part of their history, the alberta tar sands have been out of sight and out of mind for most canadians. Canadas oil sands have been called dirty oil, a carbon bomb, and game over for the worlds climate. Please dont call it dirty oil crude is never clean, but fuels derived from canadas tar sands do produce more. Location canadas oil sands are found in three deposits. Dirty oil and the future of a continent, revised and updated edition at.