Tar sands = filthy dirty bitumen "oil"

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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Anytime I try to point out the ways oil isn't always to blame, I get the 'oh you're from alberta and love oil' argument.

What I find funny is that among the people I know, my hubby and I are among the 'greenest'. We saw long ago the idiocy of driving the 3/4 ton truck to take the kids to kindergarten, the pointlessness of having to have that truck to pull a 5th wheel just so we could always have all our creature comforts with us. We've cut down our consumption as far as we can while still letting the kids be in after school activities and visit family up north, but, we don't 'go for sunday drives', wasting gas for no reason.

Why are we more energy conscious? Because my hubby DOES work in the patch. He's been doused in the frac fluid, he knows damn well it's not good stuff. He's seen blow outs and spills. And he recognizes that the industry IS consumer driven... people scream very loudly when there's no fuel at the pumps, or no gas flowing to their houses that they keep heated to 23 degrees with a window left open for fresh air.

What we also seem aware of though, that so many people miss, is that they didn't go find a bunch of soulless trolls to work in the industry. There are environmentally conscious men like my husband who, no, don't like to just **** on mother nature. They do try to prevent these issues.

I hear you Karrie- My son has been in the patch off and on for 25 years (working at Provost right now) It's like everything else, it has a purpose and it has benefits and liabilities, but it's mainly how you choose to use it. Wasting most things is not good.
 

Kakato

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Jun 10, 2009
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Yeah, for some in Alberta, Big Oil is Allah. Anyone who criticizes BO gets on their jihadist list.

Try Canada bud,just rolled back in to fort macnewfy and you have no idea how much money this place provides to the rest of Canada and I mean no idea.

This right now is the economic engine driving Canada bar none,if youve never seen a boom town then you should take a trip up here.
As an Albertan i'm in the smallest minority of fort mac's population that you could ever imagine,the bottom of 1 % maybe.

Folks come here,make good money and take it home to make life back there better then what it is because obviously,somethings not working back home if they all have to come up here to "live the dream" and make a living.

Think that about says it all except that we are cleaning up the tailings ponds but that gets ignored,some would rather focus on their hate Alberta attitude or maybe I should call it jelousy?:canada:

For anyone wondering what a boom town is like,I'm watching about 20 full size city blocks get paved today,it will all be done in one day,it blows me away to watch how many people can get working when theres big money to be made.Tomorrow they will move to another section of the city as it all needs a second layer of ashphalt,thousands of people,making things happen,allmost all of them are from Eastern Canada.
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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Try Canada bud,just rolled back in to fort macnewfy and you have no idea how much money this place provides to the rest of Canada and I mean no idea.

This right now is the economic engine driving Canada bar none,if youve never seen a boom town then you should take a trip up here.
As an Albertan i'm in the smallest minority of fort mac's population that you could ever imagine,the bottom of 1 % maybe.

Folks come here,make good money and take it home to make life back there better then what it is because obviously,somethings not working back home if they all have to come up here to "live the dream" and make a living.

Think that about says it all except that we are cleaning up the tailings ponds but that gets ignored,some would rather focus on their hate Alberta attitude or maybe I should call it jelousy?:canada:

For anyone wondering what a boom town is like,I'm watching about 20 full size city blocks get paved today,it will all be done in one day,it blows me away to watch how many people can get working when theres big money to be made.Tomorrow they will move to another section of the city as it all needs a second layer of ashphalt,thousands of people,making things happen,allmost all of them are from Eastern Canada.

Yep, let me introduce JLM's corollory...................."The more money people have, the less important things they tend to whine about"................:lol::lol::lol:
 

Kakato

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Jun 10, 2009
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Yep, let me introduce JLM's corollory...................."The more money people have, the less important things they tend to whine about"................:lol::lol::lol:

I just want enough to live on now,the more you make,the less time you have to actually enjoy the things that dont cost money.
 

dumpthemonarchy

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Jan 18, 2005
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Developing the tar sands at such a rapid clip is environmentally damaging. It is hard to figure out exactly ecause the Alberta govt dislikes environmental studies. So just close your eyes and everything is just fine. Considering the price of oil is just going to rise in the future, this rapid development is short sighted.
 

Kakato

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Developing the tar sands at such a rapid clip is environmentally damaging. It is hard to figure out exactly ecause the Alberta govt dislikes environmental studies. So just close your eyes and everything is just fine. Considering the price of oil is just going to rise in the future, this rapid development is short sighted.
These are probably the most studied projects in the world bud.

Try google,you might be amazed at how studied all of Alberta is compared to the rest of the world.

This isnt rapid development either,its been planned on and of for well over 20 years,The ignorance on Alberta's environment from people who dont have a clue just astounds me sometimes.
Were probably regulated more then any other country or industry on the planet.
 

Kakato

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Ever seen the card/ID that the EUB boys carry around (the field inspectors)? The back lists who they are and what they can do, which is just about anything in the oil/gas world.

I was a qc pipeline inspector a few years back at cold lake and I know how tough the laws are in Alberta and how fast you can get shut down,fined or thrown in jail for just not haveing all your permits or done your due diligence.

Alberta I think has some of the strictest and most stringent laws of anywhere in Canada where the environment is concerned.
And were under a microscope with the rest of the world watching.
 

jiffyfish

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Aug 16, 2010
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I was a qc pipeline inspector a few years back at cold lake and I know how tough the laws are in Alberta and how fast you can get shut down,fined or thrown in jail for just not haveing all your permits or done your due diligence.

Alberta I think has some of the strictest and most stringent laws of anywhere in Canada where the environment is concerned.
And were under a microscope with the rest of the world watching.

Kudos Kakato, for knowing your stuff. I'm 30 plus years in the oil and gas business, and the changes to reduce environmental impact have been huge. It's not a repeat of the Amazon, we Albertains are very cognisant of healing.
It's a pity Alberta has become the whipping boy for the world on the environmental scaring front.
Think strip mining....

just saying...........
 

Kakato

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Jun 10, 2009
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Kudos Kakato, for knowing your stuff. I'm 30 plus years in the oil and gas business, and the changes to reduce environmental impact have been huge. It's not a repeat of the Amazon, we Albertains are very cognisant of healing.
It's a pity Alberta has become the whipping boy for the world on the environmental scaring front.
Think strip mining....

just saying...........

Yup,I did over 22 years in the strip mines also.things are changing there too though,our mine wone the jade for many years for reclamation and last exploration camp I was at (which will be a strip mine soon),we won an award for reclamation in Nunavut,me and 2 other guys so i'm on the same page.

It's not hard but the oil and gas industry regulations are way tougher and more stringent.
permits,permits,permits,everyone covers their ass and go's after yours.:lol:
 

dumpthemonarchy

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Yup,I did over 22 years in the strip mines also.things are changing there too though,our mine wone the jade for many years for reclamation and last exploration camp I was at (which will be a strip mine soon),we won an award for reclamation in Nunavut,me and 2 other guys so i'm on the same page.

It's not hard but the oil and gas industry regulations are way tougher and more stringent.
permits,permits,permits,everyone covers their ass and go's after yours.:lol:

Hey Mr Tar Sands hack, no links yet about how the tailings/toxic ponds are getting smaller and how great a job Big Oil and its flunkies-the Alberta govt and the Harperites are doing here. Nothing at all. Just dig/drill and pollute. No problem.
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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Hey Mr Tar Sands hack, no links yet about how the tailings/toxic ponds are getting smaller and how great a job Big Oil and its flunkies-the Alberta govt and the Harperites are doing here. Nothing at all. Just dig/drill and pollute. No problem.


You want it to go away?... Stop buying gas, oil, diesel, etc. It's that simple DTM, there is no magic that need be cast.

... So, you willing to put your money where your mouth is?
 

dumpthemonarchy

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You want it to go away?... Stop buying gas, oil, diesel, etc. It's that simple DTM, there is no magic that need be cast.

... So, you willing to put your money where your mouth is?

Such an extreme viewpoint. Go back to horses. Good plan.

The govt ought force oil companies to put up bonds to clean up their messes/toxic ponds in the present and the future or they don't get to drill or dig. Personally I don't understand why govts don't do this. Commitments meannothing, only money and contracts work here because it's the only thing corporations understand.

In the triple bottom line idea, every one pays. Shareholders get less, consumers pay a bit more, and govts get less taxes. But the environment is cleaner. Why we have to put up with so much private profit and public cost.
 

Tonington

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Oct 27, 2006
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You want it to go away?... Stop buying gas, oil, diesel, etc.

Non-sequitur. The process can always be cleaner. What's the point of having minimum safe levels to protect people and ecosystems if we just ignore it for convenience, or for profit margins?
 

dumpthemonarchy

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Non-sequitur. The process can always be cleaner. What's the point of having minimum safe levels to protect people and ecosystems if we just ignore it for convenience, or for profit margins?

Totally. Thoughtless knee jerk reaction.

This is an irrational debate, but in politics, many things are. Canadians subsidize Big Oil when this hugely profitable industry does not need it and thus retards the development of new energy sources. Low taxes for Big Oil just mean higher taxes for Joe Blow on the street. Someone explain that to me.
 

Kakato

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Jun 10, 2009
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Hey Mr Tar Sands hack, no links yet about how the tailings/toxic ponds are getting smaller and how great a job Big Oil and its flunkies-the Alberta govt and the Harperites are doing here. Nothing at all. Just dig/drill and pollute. No problem.

I posted some and all you have to do is read the news or google it.They just doubled our budget to 800 million for next year because we got rid of so much Mature fine tailings.Our plant and sites are situated on what was a tailings pond last year.

Dont be so ignorant.No ones pulling your leg,they are dissapearing,right before my eyes.
I see it everyday.:roll:

Such an extreme viewpoint. Go back to horses. Good plan.

The govt ought force oil companies to put up bonds to clean up their messes/toxic ponds in the present and the future or they don't get to drill or dig. Personally I don't understand why govts don't do this. Commitments meannothing, only money and contracts work here because it's the only thing corporations understand.

In the triple bottom line idea, every one pays. Shareholders get less, consumers pay a bit more, and govts get less taxes. But the environment is cleaner. Why we have to put up with so much private profit and public cost.

You mean like a reclamation bond?
Newsflash,They do.
Are you that ignorant about the industry?
Go push your propaganda somewhere else if have no idea what your talking about.

What If Quebecers Got Their Wish, And The Oilsands Closed?

Economic impact would be devastating, even affecting Quebec's social programs

Licia Corbella, Calgary Herald, January 7, 2010


Today, let's have some fun and play fairy godmother to Quebec. Let's grant the province the wish it articulated in Copenhagen. Wave the magic wand and poof, wish granted. Shut down Alberta's oilsands, except, since it's Quebec making the wish, we have to call it tarsands, even though it's not tar they use to run their Bombardier planes, trains, and Skidoos.
Ah, at last! The blight on Canada's reputation shut down. All those dastardly workers from across Canada living in Fort McMurray, Calgary, and Edmonton out of jobs, including those waitresses, truck drivers, nurses, teachers, doctors, pilots, engineers, and so on. They can all go on employment insurance like Ontario autoworkers and Quebec parts makers!
Closing down Alberta's oil industry would immediately stop the production of 1.8 million barrels of oil a day. Supply and demand being what it is, oil prices would go up and therefore the cost at the pump would go up, too, increasing the cost of everything else.
But lost jobs in Alberta and across the country along with higher gas prices are a small price to pay to save the world and not "embarrass" Quebecers on the world stage. Not to worry though, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Nigeria can come to the rescue. You know, the guys who pump money into Al-Qa'ida and help Osama bin Laden target those Van Doos fighting in Afghanistan. Bloody oil is so much nicer than dirty tarsands oil.
Shutting down the oilsands will reduce Canada's greenhouse-gas emissions by 38.4 megatonnes. Hooray! It's so fun to be a fairy godmother! While that sounds like a lot, Canada produces only two per cent of the world's man-made GHGs and the oilsands produce only five per cent of Canada's total emissions or 0.1 per cent of the world's emissions. By comparison, the U.S. produces 20.2 per cent of the world's GHG emissions - 27 per cent of which comes from coal-fired electricity.
The 530 sq.-km piece of land currently disturbed by the tarsands (which is smaller than the John F. Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Fla.) must be reclaimed by law and will return to Alberta's 381,000 sq. km of boreal forest, a huge carbon sink. Quebec, of course, has clean hydro power, but more than 13,000 sq. km were drowned for the James Bay hydroelectric project, permanently removing that forest from acting as a carbon sink.
But fairy godmother is digressing. While the oilsands produce only five per cent of Canada's GHGs, it contributes much more to Canada's economy, with oil and gas making up one-quarter of the value on the TSX alone.
Alberta is also the largest net contributor per capita by far to Confederation. Quebec hasn't made a net contribution to the rest of Canada for a very long time. This is not to be critical; it's just a fact.
In 2007 (the last year national figures are available), Alberta sent a net contribution of $19.49 billion to the rest of Canada or $5,553 per Albertan -- more than three times what every Ontarian contributes at $1,757. Quebecers, on the other hand, each received $627 per capita net or a total of $8 billion, money which was designed to help "equalize" social programs across the country.

Except, that's not what's happening. Quebec has more generous social programs, like very cheap university tuition (paid in part by Albertans) and cheap provincial daycare (paid in part by Albertans).
But in this fairy godmother world, poof! those delightful unequal programs have now disappeared!
The July 2009 Canadian Energy Research Institute report states that between 2008 and 2032, the oilsands will account for 172,000 person-years of employment in Ontario during the construction phase, plus 640,000 for operations over the 25-year period. For Quebec, the oilsands will account for 84,000 person-years of employment during the construction phase, plus 292,000 for operations over the 25-year period. In total, the tarsands are expected to add $1.7 trillion to Canada's GDP over the next 25 years.
Wave wand. Poof. Jobs, gone! So, now that the oil industry has shut down and left Alberta, Alberta has become a have-not province and so has every other province. Equality at last! Meeting our Copenhagen targets suddenly looks possible, as most of us can't afford to drive our cars or buy anything but necessities, so manufacturers have closed their doors and emissions are way down.
Fairy godmothers always like to look on the bright side. Quebecers finally realize they can't thrive without the rest of Canada. Alas, in Alberta, separatist sentiment has risen dramatically, citizens vote to separate and the oil and gas industry returns. Albertans start to pocket that almost $6,000 for each person that used to get sent elsewhere, and now their kids get the cheap tuition.
Fairy godmother's work is done.
Quebecers must now sign up for foreign worker visas to work in Alberta to send their cheques back home so junior can start saving up to pay for college.
 

captain morgan

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Totally. Thoughtless knee jerk reaction.

This is an irrational debate, but in politics, many things are. Canadians subsidize Big Oil when this hugely profitable industry does not need it and thus retards the development of new energy sources. Low taxes for Big Oil just mean higher taxes for Joe Blow on the street. Someone explain that to me.


You keep saying they are subsidized but can only provide info regarding tax incentives.

You keep telling us that the sector is hugely profitable but conveniently forget to mention that it costs 10's of billions in investment to generate that profit.

You ignore the reality that tens or possibly 100's of thousands of people are directly/indirectly employed by this sector.

You ignore that those massive profits from the oil companies are taxed to pay for your healthcare, your schools and your roads.

You bemoan the lack of investment in renewables but don't invest yourself, or better yet, develop the technology directly.

Everything that you post on this topic reeks that it is the responsibility of anyone else but you.

Non-sequitur.


That's your answer for any opinion that is not parallel to yours


The process can always be cleaner.

Sure it can, in fact, advances are made daily, should we require the oil companies to retool every second week?.. Are you prepared to pay 10X more to finance this or will you b*tch about the oil being "our" resource and therefore it should be free?


What's the point of having minimum safe levels to protect people and ecosystems if we just ignore it for convenience, or for profit margins?


Your convenience I might add as well as for your profit in the form of not being charged impossible rates for the product that would be a result of engaging the perpetual (weekly) changes in technology.