Tar Sands in Canada

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

This place contains up to 2.5 trillion barrels of oil – that is more than Saudi Arabia’s reserves
Oil sands are made of sand, water and a hydrocarbon tar called bitumen. Since the rising oil prices and technological advances they have now become more feasible to extract.

Question 2

How much oil is produced?

Answer 2

Alberta’s tar sands produced a million barrels of oil a day in 2003 and expected to reach 3.5 million a day by 2011. By 2030 they aim to produce at least 5 million a day and export the surplus

Question 3

Problems:

Answer 3

 Oil in the shale is not easily separated out so immense amount of heat is needed usually
through burning natural gas
 Process uses huge amounts of water e.g. every barrel of oil produced requires 4 barrels of
water. The water then also becomes polluted where is can damage ecosystems
 Issue of disposing of the shale once the oil has been removed
 Very expensive and only viable when oil costs over $30 a barrel (costs $15 per barrel
compared with $2 for convectional crude oil)
 Processes tar sands are a large source of greenhouse gas emissions
 470km2 of forest have been removed and lakes of toxic waste cover 130km2

Question 4

Benefits:

Answer 4

 Alternative source of oil during times of political or access issues
 By 2030 the tar sands could meet 16% of North America’s demand for oil ENERGY
SECURITY
 Provide additional source of energy until more renewable sources can be found
 Mining companies are required to replant land disturbed by mining
 Oil is vital to Canada’s economy (2007= 20% of exports)

Question 5

Players involved:

Answer 5

1. Canada and Venezuela (countries containing Tar Sands
2. TNCs e.g. Shell and BP
3. Alberta Energy Research Institute
4. Environmental groups e.g. Greenpeace
5. Local people (those employed by the companies or those affected by pollution)