Oil Sand Industry Analysis

To what extent does the Athabasca Oil Sands take responsibility in promoting environmental stewardship? The Oil Sands are a mixture of sand, water, clay and bitumen. Bitumen is oil that is too heavy or thick to flow or be pumped without being diluted or heated. Throughout many decades, the environment has become a critical concern, and the responsibility the Oil Sands has taken is preposterous. The GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) emissions that are released into the environment undermines its practices. The only way environmental stewardship can be encouraged, is if the Oil Sands discontinues its oil development. Other alternatives such as stricter rules and regulations should be placed by the government of Alberta to ameliorate the environment.

These factors result in several issues and challenges. These matters have brought a conflict between the various stakeholders in this industry (Oilsandstruth.org, 2015). This discussion aims to identify the primary issues associated with the Canada oil sands and the involved stakeholders. Secondly, the stakeholders’ political view will be established. Finally, the discussion will recommend policies that can be effective in solving the challenges associated with the issues.

For centuries, humans have had the unsatisfiable desire for more. This is seen quite often throughout history, with a common characteristic being that the environment or some people are negatively affected, usually with long­term effects, in mankind’s quest to satisfy their lust. A modern day example of this is seen in Alberta’s oil sands, as well as in James Cameron’s science­­fiction film Avatar. Alberta oil sands have the third largest oil reserves in the world, making up over 20% of Alberta. The oil industry is a staple part of our economy, as we rely heavily on it. However, in order to get to the bitumen­­rich oil sands, countless trees have been cut down, and many people in northern Alberta have been affected, including over 20 indigenous groups.

The social community improvements of alberta as a result of the oil sands. The albertan government committed around 2.5 billion dollars in fixing up the communities of alberta as a result of the oil sands making so much money(Alberta government,march 15 2013). Some examples of this are the 1 billion in road projects, 241 million in building new neighbourhoods, and 103 million in wastewater treatment and to improve the old ones(Alberta government,march 15 2013). Air is rated good 99% of the time, drinking water consistently meets the the guidelines for canadian drinking water(Alberta government,march 15 2013). Which means the quality of life is good in the oilsands region. In conclusion the oil sands affect the communities of that region positively, by bringing in enough money to make improvements to the infrastructure.

Government has been working closely with industry for years, which is also a key factor in developing the oil sands in a socially responsible way. Most major oil companies are involved with initiatives like Water for Life Strategy, Alberta Water Council and Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (CAPP, 2012). Alberta’s oil sands are being developed with social responsibility in mind.

This 1.4 trillion-dollar industry has been able to benefit Albertans. To elaborate, Alberta’s upstream energy sector, which mainly includes the oil sands, conventional oil as well as gas and mining has provided 133,053 jobs for Alberta residents, according to Statistics Canada. As well, having the third largest oil reserves in the world, Canada is able to use the oil reserves as a trading asset, as it is currently providing 1.4 million barrels of oil to the USA everyday, which is equivalent to $49.7 million at current stock prices. As well, $52 billion dollars in royalty were accounted for during 2013-14. In this way, the oil sands industry provides jobs, billions of dollars in royalties and boosts national income and prosperity through the trading of this resource. This affects my stakeholder since this would give Ed Stlemech a healthy financial resume/profile to an otherwise terrible environmental and societal resume while he was Alberta’s

       The Alberta oil sands are a large contributor to the pollution of the air and water. They're responsible for 9.3% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and 0.13% of global emissions. The oil sands already produce a large amount of air pollution but the emissions are

In “Tarmageddon: Dirty oil is turning Canada into a corrupt petro-state,” Andrew Nikiforuk argues that the Canadian oil industry has harmed Canada’s environmental, political and economical images. First, Canada starts to be regarded as having a defensive attitude towards environmental issues since the Bitumen has been explored. Regardless of the Bitumen’s high cost and emission, Canada still welcomes billions of foreign investment in the Bitumen. Consequently, newly operated industries begin to destroy the forest and generate toxic waste (even into water). While refining oil, lots of energy and freshwater are squandered, outpouring a considerable amount of carbon emission. Hence, Canadian oil industry has been pictured as a “carbon-making

The question that has arisen from this shift is whether or not the Canadian oil and gas industry inclusive of the upstream, and midstream sectors, has a net positive benefit to Canada. This essay will explore and seek to understand the myriad of issues that this industry faces daily.

Countries having the bituminous sand but the wide range of this sand are finding in Canada. The research show that this company is important for economy and showing robust future in the future because in 2004, the processing of engineered unrefined petroleum (SCO) and natural rough bitumen spoke to 41 percent of aggregate Canadian oil generation. At an accepted WTI cost of $32 for every barrel, the oil sands generation is relied upon to expand three fold by 2017, helping considerably more than 50% of Alberta's oil supply. The normal elevated amount of oil action ought to prompt gigantic budgetary development in the district and in addition in the area. The number of inhabitants in the locale (i.e., Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region7) has expanded by 8 percent between 2000 and 2004. This contrasts and a development of 7 percent for the region, and 5 percent for the country over the same period. The development and improvement in the oil sands industry at the provincial level affects the common, national

The other adverse effect of the Canadian oil sands is that pipelines and massive processes of refining oil sands in Canada are a source of pollution that pose a great threat to air, water, and land as well as human health. Additionally, the use of its products like natural gas that is used to run medium-sized turbines that produce electricity releases greenhouse gases. These emissions are mostly produced when steam is injected to reduce the viscosity of the crude and during refining. These further increases to the global warming effect that is already out of hand and it also negates the gains made by society by exposing them to the adverse negative

Canada is the second largest country in the world and makes most of the money from exports to the United States. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has lead to a boom in the economy of Canada. The oil found in Alberta is nothing less than a benediction for its citizens. This oil reserve is the third largest in the world and is estimated be commensurate to 173 billion barrels of oil. Inflation is one of the major economic problems that Canada has in check.

By far, The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion provides benefits towards the Canadian economy; however, the detriment out weigh the potential benefits. Trans Mountain’s expansion proposal promises to implement many job opportunities for the less fortunate, but one must consider the drawback associated with this issue. If the environment undergoes a single oil spill, nearly half the jobs among multiple industries may be terminated. To continue, the economy, although many differ, will undergo an unhealthy economy due to the inflation that will occur with the expansion of the pipelines. To add on, economic growth leads to more transportation, which most likely will cause an oil spill to occur; therefore, harming the economy in terms of growth,

The operation of the Athabasca oil sands causes indigenous populations in Alberta express concerns about escalating environmental degradation. More specifically, the rapid development in the reduction of water quality systematically disadvantages indigenous populations. As production in the oil sands continues, the Canadian government neglects concerns about constitutionally protected rights. This paper will provide a comprehensive analysis of policy and legal justifications for water contamination within Athabasca.

The following document is a transcript from a sit down interview conducted between chief executive officer Jim Ellis who is responsible for the operations of the new Alberta Energy Regulator and Crystal Lameman who is known to advocate on behalf of Alberta First Nations. The interview is concerning the controversial Athabasca tar sands (also known as oil sands) which are known to contain large amounts crude oil in the world and the largest of three major oil sands deposits in Alberta (Terry, 2009). The Athabasca oil sands have made Canada the number one foreign supplier of oil to the U.S which creates close economic partnership between the two countries (Terry, 2009). However, the process of supplying the oil to the U.S involves the creation