Introduction
The statement ‘Canada oil sands are much more of a blessing rather than a curse’ is not true because the disadvantages of oil sands outweigh the advantages. For this reason, this paper aims at indicating points against the statement. To understand the defects of oil sand exploration in Canada, one has to delve into the explanation of what oil sands are as well as how the entire process of mining and refining and thereafter, determine the disadvantages based on socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, as well as the infrastructure and energy required for its production.
Oil sands are unconventional petroleum deposits that consist of loose sand and partially consolidated sand stone that contains natural mixtures of
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Levi (2009) states that, the oil sand in Canada could adversely influence the growth of not only Canada but U.S.A as well. He states that since the oil sand deposits can be depleted any time, then this availability would greatly reduce the amount of oil in both Canada as well as the surrounding countries. He also states that the dependence of America on the stability on the Middle East for its oil supply could lead to economic crisis in case the reserves get depleted reducing the amount of revenue available for use in the countries. The oil sands production could also lead to the regulation of oil prices, as it is able to meet the demand of the oil levels required thus reducing or depletion of reserves could result in instability of prices.
The other adverse effect of the Canadian oil sands is that pipelines and massive processes of refining oil sands in Canada are a source of pollution that pose a great threat to air, water, and land as well as human health. Additionally, the use of its products like natural gas that is used to run medium-sized turbines that produce electricity releases greenhouse gases. These emissions are mostly produced when steam is injected to reduce the viscosity of the crude and during refining. These further increases to the global warming effect that is already out of hand and it also negates the gains made by society by exposing them to the adverse negative
Canada ranks among the leading energy producers in the world, through oil production. These oil deposits rank oil sands of Canada as the largest oil deposits in the world after the Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The only challenge with the oil sand deposits is that oil deposits are seen as unconventional. In effect, tar sands are recognized as one of the dirtiest energy sources in the world (Bailey & Droitsch, 2015). This fact is founded on the production factor; in producing one barrel of tar sands oil, the hazardous emissions are three to five times that of producing the equivalent of conventional oil. The Alberta oil sands are viewed as the single largest economic project in human history. The Canadian government and oil
There is a huge debate if the oil sands of canada are affecting canada positively or negatively.The social and community improvements are a result of the oil sands in alberta. The economic benefits are another positive that the oil sands bring. Finally the direct and indirect jobs created in the oil sands are a huge benefit to canada. The oil sands are one of the best things that happened to canada.
The Alberta Oil Sands have affected many stakeholder groups such as government, residents, researchers and employees. However, we will focus on how it affects the Alberta Government; specifically, Ed Stlemech of the Conservative Government. As my stake holder, Ed Stlemech does not live within the Alberta Oil Sands area as well as have any direct relevance to it, I will instead examine how it has affects the citizens of Alberta and more importantly, those who live in and near the Fort Chipewyan area. In this way, the environmental, the economical as well as the societal impacts will impact Albertan voters and therefore impact the Conservative Government in way of the Alberta General Election.
People that support the oil sands argue that they're beneficial for our economy, jobs and energy, but what happens when the oil sands are gone? Canada depends on the oil sands very heavily for those things so once they're gone we're going to be scrambling to find other sources to replace what the oil sands provides for us for so long. The oil sands are making around 23 billion dollars per year and makin 151 000 jobs which means Canada will need to find another way to make that money and jobs. Once the oil sands are gone, Canada will be desperate for somewhere to get money, jobs and
The question that has arisen from this shift is whether or not the Canadian oil and gas industry inclusive of the upstream, and midstream sectors, has a net positive benefit to Canada. This essay will explore and seek to understand the myriad of issues that this industry faces daily.
The article, “Stop oilsands expansion, Canadian and U.S. researchers say” by CBC News is a convincing model of how Canada should progress with the oil sands in the future due to the credibility of the arguments. As stated in the article, “The answer isn’t a moratorium, but even more spending on research to mitigate the industry’s impacts” . All in all, the article was convincing as the analysts show maturity and a sense of realism to understand that the Canadian economy needs the oil sands so expansion may be harmful, but a moratorium is out of the
Oil and gas usage because of tar sands is now considered the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, which means it actually produces more greenhouse gas emissions in North America than all the CO2 from vehicles. The tar sands create both a noxious air quality, and a polluted water quality with bitumen (Greenpeace Canada; Semeniuk, 2016). This issue, in relation to Canada, is most problematic at the Alberta tar sands. The scientific consensus on this issue is that the tar sands not only has become one of the biggest emissions problems in Canada, but also that it has become a major health concern because of the misunderstood and unknown pollutants in the air (Greenpeace Canada; Semeniuk, 2016; Dr. Gosselin, Dr. Hrudey, Dr. Naeth, Dr. Plourde, Dr. Therrien, Dr. Van Der Kraak, & Dr. Xu., 2010). There is also a general scientific consensus that this change in the air quality contributes to climate change. This change in air quality also creates a serious threat to humans. The tar sands impact ambient air quality and produces noxious odours, which humans inhale and have the possibility to damage our lungs (Dr. Gosselin, et al., 2010).
Advocates for the end of the production of oil and gas in Northern Alberta and Saskatchewan claim that Canada could function without the oil sands (commonly referred to as “tar sands” which is improper as oil will not harder as tar will). This statement can be supported, but not without oil. Oil would have to be imported on an ever-larger scale than it currently is, requiring increased pipelines from the costal regions to more central Canadian locations. This would be seen as problematic to these environmental groups who oppose such pipeline developments. These advocates often suggest alternative methods of energy ignoring the consequences of these alternatives.
One of the major contributors to both our economy and the environment is the tar sand industry, and yet there are not that many Canadians who are aware of the problems and benefits that this industry brings to our country. Every day we are destroying our nature and environment because of the economy benefits that the oil sands bring to our country. Canada is the parent of one of the major oil sands operations in the whole World. To be more specific, its located mainly in the province of Alberta, and it is started in 1967. Alberta has the third largest oil sand reserves in the world, and there is approximately around 168 billion barrels of oil located under the lands of Alberta (Alberta Energy). Oil sand is a type of dense oil that is mixed
I have watched the YouTube video called “The Oil Sands Industry and Canada’s Future”. I have several concerns regarding some of the statements that you and a few others made during the video. I believe that when it comes to oil sands, there are a lot more negatives than positives that come with them.
The Alberta Tar Sands are large deposits of bitumen,a sticky, black and viscous semi-solid form of petroleum.(Merriam Webster) The bitumen is extracted from the earth and separated from materials that are not petroleum. This process consumes both water from the Athabasca River drainage basin and energy. While emissions from the water used are low the airborne pollutants contain more than 350 kilograms of cancer causing chemicals every four months.(Kelly) Also, bitumen is one of the least efficient power sources in the world.(Rapier) The Tar Sands are dangerous for people to live near, are environmentally damaging and unsustainable and are an inefficient source of power compared to other sources available in Canada. While the Tar Sands are currently good for the canadian economy, in the long-term they will cost us more than they make.
Oil Sand: The sand industry in Alberta is the biggest project in the today world. The oil sand is a naturally occurring mixture of sand, water, clay and another kind of natural resources and bitumen. Bitumen is heavy and extremely sticky oil that must be treated before it can be used to create usable fuels such as petroleum, gasoline and diesel. Alberta oil reserves play an important role in the Canadian as well as the global economy, supplying stable and reliable energy to the world. Alberta provides cheaper oil to Canada but gains profit by shipping to the United States. Moreover, oil sands development benefits all Canadian through employment opportunities and it brings significant economic and social benefits for local communities
The world is one that is driven by oil. The constant thirst for oil is one that will not soon be quenched. With demand growing and supply running low, we are resorting to new ways to get this black gold, no matter the cost. This new source of oil lies in the plains of Canada, more specifically the Provence of Alberta. There, lies a reserve of land that harbors the second largest reserve of oil in the world, second only to Saudi Arabia. This plot of land is the approximate size of Florida. However, unlike most other oil reserves on the planet, instead of simply drilling down into the ground to collect crude oil, the oil is trapped in large amounts of sand. The sand needs to go through a long process where the oil is extracted from the sand. The major debate is over the process in which the oil is extracted. The process is very costly, along with being very damaging to both the environment and the people living around the area. On the other hand, the oil sands hold a much needed resource that simply can not be left there, it must be put to good use, not to mention the amount of money that can be made off of the sands by cooperate billionaires. The question is simple; What is more important, money or the environment? The answer is sadly very simple.
With the current and projected oil sands development, the green house gas emission is expected to grow significantly in the near future in Alberta. The increase in the greenhouse gas emission leads to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that traps the heat, which will eventually lead to global warming. Furthermore, some green house gases like ozone are extremely harmful since it creates respiratory problems for humans and it also disrupts the ecosystem by damaging crops. Thus, the oil sands development has led to an unhealthy environment in the communities of Alberta over the past couple of years by releasing a great deal of greenhouse gases.
Canada has become one of the leading producers of crude oil in the world. This is a direct result of improved extraction methods from the Alberta tar sands in the late 1980’s. It is said that the tar sands represent the largest reserve of oil in the world, covering over 140,000 square kilometers. The tar sands are vast areas of soil containing bitumen that is a semi-solid hydrocarbon product. Once extracted from the ground, the bitumen can be refined in order to produce crude oil. To further refine the oil and produce commercial products, the oil must be transported from northern Alberta to places around the world. The three major ways to transport crude oil are shipping, pipeline and rail. Each of these modes of transportation can create