The Oil Sands

https://acadecap.wikispaces.com/Les+Ressources+naturelles
Problme: cris un essai de 4-6 pages, dans lequel tu explores une ressource naturelle/projet dexploitation dune ressource naturelle/enjeu reli, en regardant en particulier les enjeux et les solutions proposes. Partie 1 : Un aperu de lindustrie - les informations de base : Brve description de lindustrie (incluant la gologie qui permet son existence) Son importance conomique (emplois, exportations/importations, GNP, GDP) Les intervenants (membres de la communaut, travailleurs, compagnies, groupes environnementaux, niveaux et organismes gouvernementaux) et leurs points de vue et rles Les enjeux environnementaux associs Les diffrents niveaux de politique et contrle: niveaux et agences gouvernementaux, lois importantes contrlant l'exploitation et l'environnement importantes, etc.). Concepts inclure dans ton exploration: -empreinte cologique -durabilit/dveloppement durable -secteurs primaire, secondaire, tertiaire, quarternaire -GNP et GDP (PNB et PIB). Partie 2 : force d'apprendre du ton sujet, tu vas avoir des questions concernant ta ressource. Ceci est alors un zoom-in - une exploration dun ou plusieurs aspects de lindustrie bas sur tes questions. Cette partie peut tre intgr dans le reste de ton essai. Regarde les attentes pour taider davantage formuler des questions Cherche des rponses tes questions value les solutions aux problmes qui ont t proposs Pour guider ton questionnement : Attentes gnrales: analyser les interactions entre les milieux physique et humain au Canada pour mieux comprendre lamnagement des paysages urbains et ruraux. dterminer les effets de la rpartition ingale des ressources naturelles sur le dveloppement rgional et le dfi associ leur durabilit. valuer les solutions proposes pour protger lenvironnement, assurer le dveloppement durable des ressources et favoriser la croissance conomique.

Facts
You're trying to tell me that the oilsands are responsible for job loses in forestry and manufacturing.....? Oil-sands production accounts for a little over half of Canada's oil output. In 2010 Canada exported 90 billion worth of energy to the USA Roughly 26 billion worth was oilsands crude. Energy production (oil, natural gas, electricity) accounts for 6.8% of Canada's GDP. The energy sector employs roughly 265,000 Canadians or 1.8% of the Canadian work force That's from the Natural Resource Canada's own website. So the whole argument of Dutch disease and our economy being a one trick pony doesn't jive with the facts2. Directive 074

Structure
Introduction
Sujet Amen: Oil sands; what there are made of and where and when they were discovered Sujet Pos: Is it advantageous to dig the oil sands? Sujet Divis: Geology, Economic Importance, People Involved, Environment, Politic, Pipes
1

<http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/578/incoming/article16314489.ece/ALTERNATES/w300/webtueedcar14co2.jpg> 2 Comment on Huffington Post

Dveloppement
1. Geology a) The procedure b) Geography of area 2. Economic Importance 3. People Involved a) Members of the community b) Workers c) Companies d) Environmental groups e) Levels of government and governmental organisations 4. Environment 5. Politic Bill C-38 Other omnibus bill Indian Act 6. Pipes Problems involved with with pipes

D. K.
Geography CGCID

Informative Essay:

The Oil Sands; A Blessing or a Curse?

Presented to Mme Barbara Acadmie de la Capitale January 30, 2013

The Oil Sands; A Blessing or a Curse?

The oil sands, also known as tar sands or bituminous sands, are a great subject of controversy in Canada and the rest of the world. They are composed of the remains of ancient microscopic algae and at room temperature their viscosity is very similar to that of molasses. Albertas first oil sand mine was opened in 1967, but the oil has only been mass produced in the last decade because of the enormous increase in oil value and an increase in desire to produce our own oil. Since then, a debate has been lasting over these questions: Is it advantageous to dig the oil sands? How does it affect the environment and the economy? There are many

different sides of this debate, including the geology, its economic importance, the people involved, the environment and the politics.

Before exploring the different debate topics, you need to understand the geography of the area. The major oil sand deposits are Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake, which underlie 140, 200 square kilometers. Most of the oil in these oil sands are in a layer of shale, sandstone, and oil-impregnated sands which were formed during the Cretaceous period by oceans and rivers. Bitumen is formed from dead ancient microscopic algae, which has been crushed and heated after thousands of year at the bottom of lakes. There are two different types of bitumen deposits. The first is surface mining, when the bitumen in located less than 75 meters underground. These are exploited using surface mines. The other, deeper types of deposits are extracted with in place methods (in situ). To do this, several wells are drilled into the deposit. Steam is then needed to heat the bitumen, because The tit is a hundred times more viscous than petrol. The heated substance is then pumped out. About 20% of the bitumen is surface mineable, whereas the other 80% is mined with in situ methods.

One of the main arguments in favor of the oil sands is that it is extremely important for Albertas and Canadas economy. It makes up more than 30 percent of Albertas GDP3, and the oil and gas extraction accounted for 3.4 percents of Canadas GDP4. Many people are also in favor of it because of the number of jobs that it provides. This number has been estimated to be about 151, 110 jobs related multi-disciplinary professions 5 . The oil sands also produce 1.8 million barrels oil oil per day. Canada is not the only country benefiting for the oil sands. The United States import a big percentage of Canadas oil everyday. Alberta, and thus Canada, is expected to soon take over as exporter of oil to the United States instead of Middle Eastern countries because Alberta ranks third, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in terms of proven global crude oil reserves6. In 2011, Alberta's total proven oil reserves were 170.2 billion barrels, and there is a potential of about 1.69 trillion barrels of crude bitumen7.

3 4

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/athabasca.php http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/statistics-facts/1239 5 http://www.mining.com/web/athabasca-oil-sands-a-blessing-or-nuisance/ 6 http://www.energy.alberta.ca/OilSands/791.asp 7 http://www.mining.com/web/athabasca-oil-sands-a-blessing-or-nuisance/

On the other side of the debate, there is some evidence that the oil sands is actually worse for the Canadian economy, because of costs to protect the environment and troubles for other natural resource industries. Whether its the Athabasca aboriginals to the huge oil companies, or the Prime Minister to Grade 5 students, most people have an opinion about the oil sands, throughout Canada and even all over the world. Firstly, we have the First Nations. They have lived in these parts for thousands of years, living in side by side with the environment. But recently, they have been noticing some changes in the environment for the worse. The water has been getting contaminated, animal migratory routes have been disrupted and the area right outside their land is being turned into mines. They have started standing up for themselves, appearing in courts and raising awareness about whats happening in their lands. The workers and the different oil companies are the second group of stakeholders. The two main Canadian oil companies are Suncor and Syncrude, although there are over thirty other smaller ones. In the past few years, there have also also been some foreign companies, like some from China, that have shares in some of the mining projects. Many of the workers are from the surrounding area, but many young adults are migrating from Newfoundland to work. There are also many eco friendly organisations. These include Greenpeace and the David Suzuki Foundation. These companies are trying to raise awareness about the environment and the negative effects of the oil sands, and what to do about the situation. They have also protested some and brought the matter to courts. Another association is the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, or ACFN, which are the local First Nations. They are doing much of the same work as other eco friendly organisations and campaigns.

There has been some controversy over the role of the government in the oil sands. Both the provincial and federal government are important figures in this debate. Perhaps the most controversial one is the Federal government. On of the the events that gave it this reputation is the omnibus budget bill, Bill C-38. The bill became law in 2012, and with it certain amendments to the Fisheries Act. The budget bill took out the needs to do extensive research about effects to fishes environment before beginning a mining project. Bill C-45 and the Indian Act also changed bits of legislation, further hurting environment. The provincial government is also involved in the oil sands mostly with the economic benefits.

The environment and effects to it is one of the main issues in this ever going debate. The process of extraction is bad for the environment, emitting 12 percent more greenhouse gases than conventional oil. The oil sands also accounted for 6.8 of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. Because fifteen barrels of oil sands and about 3 barrels of water are needed to make only one barrel of crude oil, all the excess is dumped into tailing ponds. These are small lakes and ponds dotted around the mining sites. The oil companies dump all used water into these ponds, and it is left there, polluting aquatic life and ecosystem. Forest is also disturbed, 715 square kilometers of it, as of January 2013. Many argue that although oil companies promise to return the land they use to its original state and cause no harm, that some changes are impossible to undo.

After extracting the crude bitumen, it needs to go to refineries. As none are situated near to the mines, pipelines are needed to transport the sand. This is another factor with the oil sands, one that is quite popular in the debate. There are many risks involved in transporting millions of barrels of oil a day, through hundreds to thousands of kilometers, and then possibly putting it on a boat that is to sail across the biggest ocean in the world. These pipes need to be extremely secure, preventing any risk of spill, for one could prove disastrous. It also takes an enormous amount of work, money and time to build a pipeline of such proportions. One of the pipeline projects proposed is to run all the way from North Alberta to Texas. It is called the Keystone XL Pipeline. It is a subject of controversy, both in the United States and in Canada, with very much similar to debate about extracting the oil.

A good word to describe the oil sands is controversial. Some say it is a great economic advantage from which Canada and its people could benefit immensely, whereas others argue that the costs and consequences to the environment outweigh the benefits. There are many different ways to look at this subject, so Ill leave it to you; Are the oil sands a blessing or a curse? And what should we do about it?

Mediagraphy
Google Maps https://www.google.ca/maps/preview?hl=en#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d342569!2d111.4371246!3d56.9969514!2m1!1e3&fid=7

General
Wikipedia
Wikipedia english http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sands

Wikipdia french http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sable_bitumineux Wikipedia athabasca english http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_oil_sands Wikipdia athabasca french http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sables_bitumineux_de_l%27Athabasca

Oil companies
Cenovus oil company http://www.cenovus.com/about/index.html Their add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPQfeIn_eF8

Pipeline
Pipeline company http://www.gatewayfacts.ca/ For Keystone (TransCanada) http://keystone-xl.com/about/environmental-responsibility/

Maybe article about problems http://www.mining.com/canadas-oil-sands-brace-for-conflictridden-2014-95551/ Possible, havent read it http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/yves-engler/oil-sandsfever_b_4506201.html Large pdf against oil sands http://environmentaldefence.ca/reports/duty-calls-federalresponsibility-canada%E2%80%99s-oil-sands-0 Grade 5 Students http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/Blog/how-grade-5s-see-the-tarsands/blog/47717/ Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/Energy/tarsands/ Their add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5u2yy_LbYg About and against Bill C38 https://wildernesscommittee.org/news/bill_c_38_answers_oil_and_gas_lobbyist_prayers Pauline Marois and Oil http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/24/quebec-oilpipeline_n_2184873.html Comments http://commonsensecanadian.ca/REPORTED_ELSEWHERE-detail/harper-firesback-neil-youngs-anti-tar-sands-tour/

Facts

Good facts http://www.pembina.org/oil-sands/os101/alberta Excellent facts http://www.energy.alberta.ca/OilSands/791.asp

A quick geology/geography/some facts

http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river/geography/geological+prehistory/mesozoic.aspx Many good links at end http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/athabasca.p hp I found, origin of bitumen http://www.shivamtarproducts.com/index.php?option=com_content&vi ew=article&id=55&Itemid=74

Environmental aspects
A bit http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/jun08/feature_tar_sands.asp Not really http://environmentaldefence.ca/blog/altered-perspective-impact-tar-sandscanada%E2%80%99s-water http://peopleandplanet.org/ditchdirtydevelopment/tarsands Pollution in the water http://envirolaw.com/hurrah-david-schindler/

Native issues:
http://rabble.ca/news/2011/11/athabasca-chipewyan-first-nation-sue-shell-canada-over-tarsands-projects Video http://desmog.ca/2013/05/23/VIDEO-Athabasca-Chipewyan-First-Nation-Says-TarSands-Gone-Far-Enough First Nation in Alberta National Geographic http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/03/canadia n-oil-sands/kunzigtext/2?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_intl_ot_w#finis hed Aboriginal against oil sands http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/Blog/idle-no-more-in-the-tarsands/blog/43665/ United Nations document http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A%2FRES%2F61%2F295

Economic Aspects:
O.K... http://www.mining.com/web/athabasca-oil-sands-a-blessing-or-nuisance/

The Money Behind the Oil:

http://business.financialpost.com/tag/athabasca-oil-sands-corp/

http://commonsensecanadian.ca/canadians-get-lots-coal-oil-gas-holiday-trash-dump/

http://mapleleafweb.com/features/alberta-s-oil-sands-key-issues-and-impacts http://oilsandstruth.org/david-suzuki-tar-sand-wealth-comes-environmental-costs