Energy Today - April 13, 2011
Rayola Dougher
Posted April 13, 2011
Energy Tribune: What's the Alternative to Oil Sands?: We have had a tendency to view Canada as the Saudi Arabia of the north. Considering that we now receive more oil from there than from all the countries of the Persian Gulf combined, and that our NAFTA partner's proved reserves of 178 billion barrels are second only to those of the Kingdom, that's not unreasonable. As recently as 2002, though, Canada's oil reserves were under 6 billion barrels, before the oil sands could be booked as reserves in large quantities. Without its oil sands, Canada would be just another mature oil province with declining conventional output. The question of how rapidly to develop those resources, and whether to export their output outside North America to any significant degree, is currently a hot topic in Canadian politics. The pipeline to transport this oil to Kitimat, British Columbia for export to Asia seems to be subject to a similar debate to the one we're having in this country concerning the Keystone XL line from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. But what if these projects didn't go forward? A world without oil sands might have a little less in the way of greenhouse gas emissions, but it would also have much higher oil prices, and those prices would be more volatile. Red State: Energy Flow: Sources and Uses: Observations: We have truly huge, energy-based economy. It doesn't turn on a dime. The U.S. consumes 25% of the world's petroleum, and produces, not coincidentally, 25% of global GDP. As much as we hear about "renewable energy", the dominant renewable source is hydropower. The greens want less hydropower, not more. Solar is coded yellow in this graphic. Wind is in purple. They are only used to generate electricity. The primary sources of electricity are coal, natural gas and nuclear energy. Wind and solar would have to grow explosively for many years to become a significant source of electricity. Natural gas is the most versatile fuel on the chart. It is a major source of all energy except transportation, and it has growth potential in that market. We have an ample supply of gas, which is clean, efficient and nearly 100% domestic.
Additional Resources:
Denver Post: Elbert County Banks on Oil Boom
ExxonMobil's Perspectives Blog: Restricting Oil Supplies? Take a Look in the Mirror
OregonLive: Making the Case for Oil Exploration and Drilling in North America