The Athabasca oil sands, more commonly known as the Alberta tar sands, are large deposits of heavy crude oil in the North Easterly reaches of Alberta. According to Alberta Energy, the oil sands are the third largest crude oil reserves in the world. Only two countries, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, possess reserves greater than Canada (Alberta Energy, 2012). Arguably, the capital gained from exporting Athabasca bitumen or crude oil (a form of petroleum) promotes job and economic growth, and also contributes royalties toward Albertan education and healthcare. On the other hand, the growing reliance on the Athabasca oil sands makes the Canadian economy incredibly susceptible to collapses in global oil prices. Furthermore, the region immediately…
often not viewed as a priority, which allows for many individuals to cause damaging effects such as the creation of the Alberta tar sands in order to economically benefit as mentioned. Currently, the world is already facing various threats such as climate change due to an increase in green house gasses and the tar sands only further contributes to this increase. The tar sands are responsible for approximately 8.5 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions (“Energy Alberta”, n.d).…
significant leap to change their ways before it too late and thrive to become environmental stewards. Alberta oil sand is a prime example of how humans play a crucial role in the destruction of the environment. Alberta oil sand is one of the largest industrial projects in the world and mostly known as “the biggest environmental crime” in history. However, over the years there is been various debate concerning the Alberta oil sand and its effects on the environment. The procedure of mining oil…
When assessing Burtynsky’s photography in relation to the BP oil spill, Lance Duerfahrd notes how Burtynsky’s photography encourages viewers “to become art historians” by way of “abstraction” (Duerfahrd 126). “Bitumen” also asks this of its readers by situating Burtynsky’s photography within the tradition of the sublime, while it also compels scrutiny of the “anaesthetics” and abstraction at work in Burtynsky’s OIL. In the following passage, the poem describes “Burtynsky’s drone helicopters” and…
demand for oil continues to increase. When conventional oil resources cannot meet the rapid growth of oil demand, people turn their attention to unconventional oil resources, which is an important source of oil sands. By the sand, asphalt, mineral, clay and water in five parts of the oil sands is a kind of unconventional oil resources. It is distributed widely, and is rich in resources. At present, the world oil sand technology is known to be about 1035.1 cubic meters, accounting for 32%% of the…
Tailing ponds are one of the greatest environmental challenges that the Oil Sands Industries of Alberta and other locations in the world face today. Tailing Ponds can be described as large “dump holes” in which the industry exposes of all the waste materials obtained from the refinement of Bitumen - a raw material which can be processed into oil. Tailing Ponds include many different types of waste materials such as water, fine silts, residual bitumen, salts and soluble organic compounds. They…
Keystone XL Pipeline Proposal: A Step Backward A pipeline through our country to supply our need for crude oil is a backward concept, as we should be working toward a clean renewable energy source. Our current reliance on crude oil has us in a panic to find ways to obtain this crude oil with cheaper and easier methods. The Keystone XL Pipeline Plan will not be a cheap and easy way to obtain more fossil fuel and it will cause more damage to our environment and climate as well as harm our safety…
unspoiled by pollution. Unfortunately, beneath the flourish of life was the dark discovery of tar sands. Tar, or oil sands are composed of sand, water, clay, and bitumen- a thick, dark, and heavy oil. Because of its viscosity, bitumen needs to be lightened with a mixture of hydrocarbons to transport it through pipes. The mining of bitumen began in 1719 when it was first discovered, and small extractions were attempted in the 1920s and throughout World War II. The first commercial bitumen mining…
and continuously optimized is crucial for unlocking the true value of globalization.” (“Unlocking the Value of Globalization,” 2005). Applying this definition to their business model, Enbridge was able to unlock the true value of globalization and has astronomically increased their growth. In an article about how Enbridge is looking to increase the production of oil sands it says, “…oil sands…
On a bright and sunny evening my mom, some of her friends, and I went to pine-trees. The beach was beautiful, the sun was shining, there were no clouds blocking the sun, there was a cool breeze, the water was blue, the waves were not too big but not too small, they were just right. My friend Tiana and I decided to go swimming, she took a tube and I took my body board without any finns. When we were out on the water it was going great. There was some big sets, but nothing to major. We kept going…