Tar Sands - Energy Security

Question 1

How many barrels of oil does Tar Sands contain?

Answer 1

Up to 2.5 trillion barrels - this is more than Saudi Arabia’s reserves

Question 2

What are oil sands made up of?

Answer 2

Sand, water and a hydrocarbon tar called bitumen - more technological advances make it more feasible to extract

Question 3

Alberta’s Tar Sands produced what number of barrels of oil a day in 2003?

Answer 3

One million

Question 4

How many barrels of oil a day is Tar Sands expected to reach by 2011?

Answer 4

3.5 million

Question 5

How many barrels of oil a day is Tar Sands expected to reach by 2030?

Answer 5

Aim to produce at least 5 million a day

Question 6

What is the oil in that makes it hard to extract/separate from each other?

Answer 6

Shale

Question 7

What is needed to extract the oil from the shale?

Answer 7

Immense amount of heat - usually through burning natural gas

Question 8

What natural element does the process use a lot of?

Answer 8

Water

Question 9

How many barrels of water is needed per one barrel of oil?

Answer 9

Every barrel of oil needs 4 barrels of water - the water then becomes polluted and damages ecosystems

Question 10

What is there an issue trying to dispose of once the oil is extracted?

Answer 10

Shale

Question 11

What is an economic negative impact of the process?

Answer 11

Very expensive

Question 12

What does the process release a lot of into the atmosphere?

Answer 12

Greenhouse gas emissions

Question 13

How much forest has been removed?

Answer 13

470km(2)

Question 14

By 2030, the Tar Sands could meet what percentage of North America’s demand for oil?

Answer 14

16%

Question 15

What are mining companies required to do if land if disturbed by mining?

Answer 15

Replant the land

Question 16

Who are the key players involved in Tar Sands?

Answer 16

1) Canada and Venezuela
2) TNCs e.g. Shell and BP
3) Alberta Energy Research Insitute
4) Environmental Groups e.g. Greenpeace
5) Local People - Employed or Affected