Stories tagged with 60 minutes

Alberta oil sands on 60 Minutes

Posted by Yankee on January 22, 2006 - 8:36pm
Topic: Geology/Exploration
Tags: 60 minutes, alberta, canada, fort mcmurray, oil sands [list all tags]

Did anyone else happen to catch the 60 Minutes piece on the Alberta oil sands? What most struck me about it is that the situation in Alberta seems to be a microcosm of many problems we've discussed with respect to peak oil. Namely:
  1. The technology required to mine the sands and convert it into refined oil is expensive and the whole operation has a fairly low EROEI.
  2. Lack of appropriately trained labor force, coupled with the fact that Fort McMurray, Alberta is not a particularly desirable place to live
  3. Environmental disaster (although at least Canadian law says requires that old mines are refilled and trees are replanted)
  4. Geopolitical factors: Namely, China is in a desperate competition with the US for these resources, and politicians are suggesting that Canada should use the oil sands to gain leverage in their trade disputes with the US
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