The dramatic drop in oil prices is having an impact around the world and Alberta’s oil sands is no exception. Mike Ekelund, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Initiatives for Alberta Energy says because “large projects are a marathon and not a sprint, unless they are still in the planning stages they are not easily shelved”, […]
Oil price downturn has potential to bring out best in the industry
The plunging price of a barrel of oil has the industry in North America and other parts of the world scrambling to cover costs. At the World Heavy Oil Congress now underway in Edmonton, Alberta, those in attendance heard from ARC Financial Corp’s VP, Jackie Forrest that companies “are at the threshold or below where they need […]
Are climate change activists really a threat to national security?
Climate change activists pose a “credible threat to the health and safety” of Canadians. That’s according to a memo by the RCMP to the Harper government. The document has climate change activists wondering if they will now face surveillance under proposed anti-terrorism laws. The 44 page intelligence assessment of Canada’s environmentalist movement, dated 24th January […]
Comment: Pipelines vs rail cars
The fiery derailment of two trains carrying crude oil in the space of three days underscores the worrisome impact of such incidents. Images of huge fireballs from the crash of an oil train in West Virginia will have brought back memories for many Canadians of the Lac-Megantic disaster where 47 people died. Two days before the West […]
New rules in the wake of a quake
New rules for oil companies using hydraulic fracturing in the Fox Creek area should prevent stronger earthquakes, the Alberta Energy Regulator has declared. After a cluster of earthquakes possibly associated with “fracking” in the region, the regulator decided to bring new regulations, said Todd Shipman, AER manager responsible for seismic monitoring. “We want the ability […]
Looking for options
Alberta is in discussions with Alaska about shipping oil sands crude through the U.S. state to the Pacific as approval for the southbound Keystone XL pipeline languishes in Washington. The Alaska plan would involve constructing a pipeline along the Mackenzie River valley and then west to existing ports on the U.S. coast, Alberta Premier Jim […]
Comment: Who should lead the way with carbon pricing systems?
If provinces are serious about keeping the federal government out of their jurisdiction, they need to demonstrate they can work together on critical files like carbon policy. Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec have priced carbon to help meet GHG (greenhouse gas) emission targets. Once Ontario’s system is in place, 86 per cent of Canadians will […]
Comment: “Tar Sands” or “Oil Sands” you decide
If you’ve ever watched the opening scene* of the 1981 Canadian horror movie called Scanners, you know what happens to a typical advocate of wide-open development of Alberta’s vast bituminous sands if you happen to use the term“tar sands.” This makes it almost too much fun not to say “tar sands”every time you have the […]
Carbon monitoring tests to be done in oil sands
The U.S. Department of Energy is ready to shell out up to a half million dollars to test monitoring technologies at a Royal Dutch Shell’s oil sands carbon-capture and storage facility. The facility is currently under construction. The government department will be field testing advanced monitoring, verification and accounting technologies for the storage of carbon dioxide […]
If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old
Management consultant, educator, and author, Peter F. Drucker said, “If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.” The oil and gas industry insists it is moving forward and always has been when it comes to innovation. But anyone familiar with the industry knows it has a well earned reputation for slow […]
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