An investigation by CBC has revealed the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S or sour gas) released by the Co-op Refinery Complex is significantly higher than any other refinery in the country. According to Environment Canada while some VOCs are are not a concern, others are toxic and can cause cancer […]
Emerging heavy oil players from a conventional source
When it comes to petroleum production both Oman and Kuwait’s GDP sits around 50%. Production costs are low and reserves are plentiful. Now both countries are looking to expand their operations from conventional oil to heavy. Leading the way is Oman. Eng. Ali Al Gheity with Petroleum Development Oman says “the luxury this country has […]
Getting oil to market faces challenges
“Pipelines have become the focal point of debate when looking at the energy industry” That comment was made by Norman Rinne, the Director of Business Development with Kinder Morgan. Rinne told the crowd at the World Heavy Oil Congress being held in Edmonton, Alberta that all you have to do is look at the ongoing […]
Oil sands projects forge ahead
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”, […]
Pipeline gets approval – with conditions attached
With Keystone XL, Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines stalled at the gate, the Alberta Energy Regulator has given a tentative stamp of approval to the $3-billion Grand Rapids oil pipeline. Along with the “OK” comes 26 conditions. Considerably less than the more than 200 needed before the Northern Gateway can proceed. The pipeline in […]
Shell fits final module on Alberta oil sands’ first carbon capture project
Shell Canada has fitted the final module at the first carbon capture and storage project in Alberta’s oil sands, putting start-up on track for 2015. The Quest CCS project, now 70 percent complete, is being built with funding from the Alberta and Canadian federal government to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands. […]
Comment: View of oil sands debate from the soap box
Utah has little problem with their oil sands, yet Alberta’s oil sands and the Key Stone Pipeline is trashed around the world as an environmental nightmare. Why the hypocrisy? This is a question no one seems to want to tackle. Oil sands are the same around the world. You can’t have good and bad oil sand. So why […]
New diluent line to oil sands up and running
Inter Pipeline has completed a $1.1 billion conduit serving two northern Alberta oil sands projects operated by Cenovus Energy Inc. The new line will deliver as much as 350,000 barrels per day of diluent, an ultra light form of crude oil blended into the tar-like bitumen from the oil sands so it can flow on […]
Edmonton area is proposed site for liquefied natural gas plant
Gascana AB Energy Ltd. is behind a plan to produce 3-thousand tonnes of liquefied natural gas at a facility proposed for Edmonton. Gascana is a joint venture company formed by China’s Qingdao Sinoenergy Corporation, Asiafic Clean Energy Limited of Hong Kong (a subsidiary of Qingdao Sinoenergy Corporation) and Petrox Resources, which is headquartered in Calgary. […]