Table of Contents
- 1 What impact has the extraction of oil from the Alberta oil sands had on the local environment?
- 2 What are the environmental and health impacts of extracting oil from the oil sands?
- 3 What is sand oil used for?
- 4 Where are the oil sands in Alberta?
- 5 How has Alberta’s oil production changed over time?
- 6 What is the main source of crude oil in Canada?
What impact has the extraction of oil from the Alberta oil sands had on the local environment?
Tar sands extraction emits up to three times more global warming pollution than does producing the same quantity of conventional crude. It also depletes and pollutes freshwater resources and creates giant ponds of toxic waste.
What is an example of an environmental impact that the oil sands in Alberta has?
The oil sands industry has been very destructive to the environment and our communities in the region, says Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, executive director of Indigenous Climate Action, an indigenous-led organization. “It’s had a huge impact on caribou, bison, moose, birds, fish, the water, the forest.
What are the environmental and health impacts of extracting oil from the oil sands?
Climate Impacts: The greenhouse gas emissions for oil sand extraction and processing are significantly larger than for conventional crude oil. These emissions contribute to global warming and the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Is oil sands crude oil?
Oil Sands Crude Oil sands, sometimes referred to as tar sands, is a mixture of sand, clay, other minerals, water, and bitumen. The bitumen is a form of crude oil that can be separated out from the mixture. In its natural state, it is very dense and highly viscous.
What is sand oil used for?
Tar sands (also known as oil sands) are a mixture of mostly sand, clay, water, and a thick, molasses-like substance called bitumen. Bitumen is made of hydrocarbons—the same molecules in liquid oil—and is used to produce gasoline and other petroleum products.
What is oil sands production?
The oil sands are the third-largest proven oil reserve in the world, representing 166.3 billion barrels (or 97\%) of Canada’s 171 billion barrels of proven oil reserves (technical overview). In 2014, oil sands production was 2.2 million barrels per day.
Where are the oil sands in Alberta?
Alberta
Athabasca oil sands/Province
How much crude oil is in Alberta’s oil sands?
Alberta’s oil sands’ proven reserves equal about 165.4 billion barrels (bbl). Crude bitumen production (mined and in situ) totalled about 2.8 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2017. Source: Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) ST 98, ST39 and ST53 reports.
How has Alberta’s oil production changed over time?
Alberta’s oil production has changed over time. For many decades, conventional crude oil comprised the majority of Alberta’s oil production. However, with the exception of the odd blip, Alberta’s crude oil production has been steadily declining since 1974. In 2014, Alberta produced on average 590,000 barrels per day of crude oil.
Where is Alberta oil being shipped?
Recently, small amounts of Alberta oil have been shipped to new destinations such as Spain, Singapore, Italy and Switzerland, where refiners are interested in testing it in their refineries or obtaining new supply sources. Source: Alberta Energy; Alberta Energy Regulator; Statistics Canada
What is the main source of crude oil in Canada?
In Canada, Alberta’s oil sands have the largest reserves of crude oil, but there are also large deposits off the coast of Atlantic Canada. Crude oil activities include exploration, drilling production, field processing, as well as storing and transporting oil.