Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Enbridge Gateway Pipeline/ Offshore Tanker Traffic [BC]

As with most components of the tarsands, the escalation in tar sand production being proposed by the US Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada would likely require this infrastructure. This infrastructure may lay the basis for further encroachments. Many indigenous nations from the region have launched objections to this pipeline, including legal challenges. The possibility is very strong that this would immediately include opening the coast to shipping, including the Inside Passage of Alaska's Panhandle. The tar sand oil to be shipped by this or an alternate pipeline system to the BC Coast would be shipped to China and California, and may also include more shipments on their way to or from places such as Prince William Sound in Alaska, breaking an offshore shipping moratorium in British Columbia. Once that moratorium is removed, then places such as Russia can import light hydro carbonic liquids to pipe the other way-- into Alberta-- to help yet more tarsand production and possible further expansion.

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Enbridge Gateway Pipeline [BC] is a category that involves the end of the pipeline's proposed route and attendant offshore shipping needed if heavy oil is transported to the proposed facility near Kitimat, British Columbia. To transport that heavy oil, a pipeline is proposed that would traverse the forests and land from Alberta's Peace Region across northern British Columbia to the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where an attendant marine facility would also be built. As with most components of the tarsands, the escalation in tar sand production being proposed by the US Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada would likely require this infrastructure. This infrastructure may lay the basis for further encroachments. Many indigenous nations from the region have launched objections to this pipeline, including legal challenges. The possibility is very strong that this would immediately include opening the coast to shipping, including the Inside Passage of Alaska's Panhandle. The tar sand oil to be shipped by this or an alternate pipeline system to the BC Coast would be shipped to China and California, and may also include more shipments on their way to or from places such as Prince William Sound in Alaska, breaking an offshore shipping moratorium in British Columbia. Once that moratorium is removed, then places such as Russia can import light hydro carbonic liquids to pipe the other way-- into Alberta-- to help yet more tarsand production and possible further expansion.

Terrace Standard Hacking up Dogwood Initiative, NDP-- Promoting oil and gas in Douglas Channel

As always, the good news is that when such hate comes at you, it is part of a larger concern that the politics being brought forth by critics are harming "business as usual". As such, people concerned about traditional lands from Edmonton to Kitamaat Village and up and down the Inside Pasage of BC should take note, and perhaps a pat on the back. Fear them only when they ignore you.

--M

This MP should stay far away
By ROGER HARRIS
http://www.terracestandard.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=33&cat=48&id=...
Aug 08 2007

Oil: BC's Hydra-headed Headache

Oil: BC's Hydra-headed Headache
A grim exception. To prevent and respond to spills, our policies are a mess.
By Arthur Caldicott // August 2, 2007
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2007/08/02/Hydra/

For an industry that likes to keep its business underground, pipeline companies create a hell of mess when they allow it to surface. And the shipping industry, which prefers to stay on the surface, creates a hell of a mess when it tanks.

Growth and Pipelines Everywhere

Snippets from the Business pages:
1 Enbridge Promises to build Gateway Pipeline without PetroChina & build Alberta Clipper
2 Largest Companies trying to get in on Expansion of Tar Sands
3 CP to further Expand in Tar Sands
4 Husky adding more Refineries
5 Imperial Oil buys huge exploration permit in Arctic /Beaufort Sea

These stories paint a collective picture of development of mock "oil" out of control.

Not enough pipelines for the Tar Pits: National Energy Board

This news article below shows, once again, that taking out the ability to construct pipelines to send oil and and bring gas (x2) in is a viable strategy for the cessation of the tar pits expansion. In other words, our fights against the Keystone, Alberta Clipper and North-Central Corridor, along with the Mackenzie Gas Project and Enbridge Gateway (among so many more!) all slow down the speed of flowing mock crude to a bottleneck pace.

Despite pulling out of Gateway, China to Expand in Tar Sands

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=a0fadc90-c1fb-4...

China to expand oilsands presence
July 20, 2007

SHANGHAI (Bloomberg) - China National Petroleum Corp., the nation's largest oil producer, plans to expand its cooperation with Canadian partners on oil sands projects, refuting a company official's comment that it will slow down investment.

Stratfor: "Canada, China: A Pipeline to Oil Sands Expertise"

Canada, China: A Pipeline to Oil Sands Expertise
July 16, 2007 19 03 GMT
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=292359
Summary

PetroChina announced July 12 that it is quitting a pipeline project that would transport oil derived from Alberta's oil sands to British Columbia. China never intended to build the pipeline, since what it really sought was the know-how Canadian oil sand producers have acquired over the years.

Analysis

Gateway to nowhere

A great article and summation, though I believe that author Swanson is a tad too optimistic to suggest that the project looks dead. The plans for moving heavy bitumen [et al] to other markets-- with the US most likely demanding to be the first ones considered-- must happen in phases, because the recoverability/daily oil-producing capacity cannot be tripled overnight.

CNPC withdrawal will not stop Gateway Pipeline: Enbridge

Enbridge still online with Gateway project
Jul 12, 2007 06:31 PM
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/235384
Dina O'Meara
Canadian press

CALGARY–Enbridge Inc. was taken by surprise Thursday by comments PetroChina, its major partner in an ambitious Alberta to British Columbia pipeline, was pulling out of the $3-billion project.

"We have not discussed CNPC's comments with them," spokesperson Glenn Herchak told The Canadian Press. "So it would not be appropriate to comment."

Highway, (tarsands) Pipeline Route from Houston to Kitimat (BC)

Connector route roughed out

The sections marked in red show where logging roads already exist. The blue is the “to-do’ part of the proposed Connector.
http://www.northernsentinel.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=16&cat=23&id...

By Ryan Calvery

Jul 04 2007

Although a definitive right of way has never been carved out for a Houston-Kitimat road link, one resident has mapped out a plan that involves private investment.

Tar Sands Tanker Traffic 'under radar' along BC Coastline

Oil tanker traffic ‘under radar’ along B.C. coastline
http://www.ladysmithchronicle.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=18&cat=23&...
By Brennan Clarke
Black Press
Jul 03 2007

VICTORIA – Increasing oil tanker activity in B.C.’s northern waters has West Coast NDPers calling on Ottawa and Victoria to “formalize” a long-standing moratorium on tanker traffic and offshore exploration.