Bitumen

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…

Oil sands, defined simply are a mixture of water, sand, clay, and natural bitumen. Natural bitumen is a heavily viscous oil, which must undergo specialized procedures in order to be extracted. While oil sands occur in many places in the world, the largest such occurrence is located in the forests of Northern Alberta. This area is referred to as the Alberta Oil Sands, or the Athabasca Oil Sands. Oil sands were not always included when estimating the world’s recoverable oil reserves. It is…

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 began in 1967. and continued into…

concern was voiced by British Columbia’s Premiere Christy Clark who stated that while Alberta will receive great benefits from the construction of the pipeline, British Columbia would have to endure the most environmental risk, as a majority of the bitumen would run through British Columbia and would be transported from the province’s coast (CBC, 2012). Alongside Premiere Clark, the municipality of Terrace has voiced similar opinions by stating that although the pipeline may generate revenue…

Physical composition of crude oil varies from black liquids of high viscosity to straw-colored liquids that vary from viscous of free flow (Nji, 2010). Crude oil is classified commercially by API gravity into light, medium, heavy and extra heavy or bitumen. Accordingly, light oils have an API gravity >31.1° and medium crude oils are those…

largest stockpile of fossil fuels; bitumen. Bitumen, which lies beneath prehistoric boreal forests and peat bogs, is composed of oil, sand, and clay, and is often compared to thick tar. Because of its composition, bitumen is commonly referred to as tar sands The only method to remove the tar sands from the ground is to first inject hot steam into the earth until the bitumen melts and then carry it to the surface with heavy machinery. Once above ground, converting bitumen to fuel can consume as…

Oil is also known as a solid which is called Bitumen. Oil can look black or yellow. Oil is greasy. Oil’s properties allows it float on water.20,7,6 Like I said before, Oil is just a liquid form. There is also Bitumen.4 Bitumen can be known as asphalt cement.4 Bitumen is mostly used for road construction.4 Bitumen can be sticky and black.4 Oil is also known as petroleum.4 Petroleum is more of a scientific term.4 Oil can be different…

A choice is never as easy as it may seem. While making a decision that will impact millions of people it is important to fully analyse the situation from both perspectives. In the case of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline, there have evidently been two choices presented to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One is to support and implement the Pipeline and the latter being to oppose and prevent it from coming to fruition. It has become extremely important for Mr. Trudeau to weigh the benefits and…

Canada needs to put its focus toward in order to become a sustainable superpower. Canada needs to start putting its focus within larger projects, such as expanding hydroelectric power, introducing nuclear-generated heat for the oil sands, upgrading bitumen from the oil sands, and most importantly, interconnecting Canada through its electricity networks. These projects will provide the workforce of Canada with the focus and guidance they need to raise Canada’s performance in sustainable energy…

The project has sparked major environmental concerns, particularly in Nebraska, where the pipeline would elapse over an aquifer that provides drinking water and irrigation to much of the Midwest. Keystone XL threatens extensive underground supplies that once contaminated, cannot be cleaned. There’s no place for toxic oil can go “away” to once it enters an aquifer. Sadly, that is just one of the immense environmental threats Keystone Xl poses. Oil extracted from tar sands are thicker, more acidic…