tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post116914319886541213..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: Let's Just Forget ItSteve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169157495280128912007-01-18T16:58:00.000-05:002007-01-18T16:58:00.000-05:00my concern is that the expanded production of bitu...my concern is that the expanded production of bitumen will be shipped to the US for upgrading rather than refined in Canada. <B>That should not be permitted to happen.</B> We have enough resource industries where low value product is exported and the value add is lost to Canada.Mark Dowlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01399115211805036553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169156184357890642007-01-18T16:36:00.000-05:002007-01-18T16:36:00.000-05:00Does anyone actually believe the oil companies wou...Does anyone actually believe the oil companies would invest billions in the tar sands, if they didn't have complete confidence that the future price can support development?Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169153568943888292007-01-18T15:52:00.000-05:002007-01-18T15:52:00.000-05:00Oh yes Kyle:Despite the massive development of the...Oh yes Kyle:<BR/><BR/>Despite the massive development of the oilsands in the last decade the price that I pay at the pumps has gone up not down.<BR/><BR/>The oil companies ensure that they do not rock the boat with regard to retail prices so there really is only a precarious relationship between the amount of oil extracted and the price at the pumps.<BR/><BR/>Or to put it another way. Regardless of whether oil production increases at a hell bent for leather pace or a more sustainable pace the price at the pumps will continue to rise.ottlibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12695135535019042279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169153158860823102007-01-18T15:45:00.000-05:002007-01-18T15:45:00.000-05:00Kyle and Big Oil remind me of a saying Mr. Fred Me...Kyle and Big Oil remind me of a saying Mr. Fred Mercury stated a few years ago:<BR/><BR/>"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I WANT IT NOW!ottlibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12695135535019042279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169148148252215402007-01-18T14:22:00.000-05:002007-01-18T14:22:00.000-05:00I'd argue against Kyles thoughts suggesting oil is...I'd argue against Kyles thoughts suggesting oil is not a guaranteed revenue source, as he seems to believe it could fall down to $7 a barrel sometime in the future -- I can only picture one scenario that would produce that... Hmmm, because the air quality is so poor that people are forced to live in geo-domes, carbon-based fuels are spurned for more clean-operating options, like solar power.<BR/>The incentive package that encouraged the development to date proved very successful -- even if you believe the spin that its just now making a profit (sort of like those stickers on the pumps trying to tell you that the oil companies only make 5 cents on a litre -- no if you were to study the real info that is the profit of the station manager) a downturn is almost impossible, thanks to quenchless Americans, exploding middle classes in India and China, and our own constant consumption. But to force Big Oil to take the next step in development and refine the process to be environmentally responsible, as opposed to environmentally detrimental, would likely see a slowing of the growth rate from the tarsands. But the oil that was not being processed today would amortize tomorrow at a higher reward, therefore helping to elevate the extra costs of production. And yep, he's totally wrong on the water issue, but i'm betting he prefers to swim in crude anyways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169146305516852642007-01-18T13:51:00.000-05:002007-01-18T13:51:00.000-05:00My bad on the barrels.I guess the two-hour show on...My bad on the barrels.<BR/><BR/>I guess the two-hour show on CBC radio, speaking to water experts in Alberta, concerning the problem was just my imagination. Sorry.Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1169145598200539302007-01-18T13:39:00.000-05:002007-01-18T13:39:00.000-05:00First of all, it is barrels, not gallons. A barrel...First of all, it is barrels, not gallons. A barrel is 31 US gallons or 117.4 litres. <BR/><BR/>Also, is it fair to cap a developing sector like the oilsands? Would you ask for a 25% drop in carbon emissions from car factories(as in the entire sector) if car companies were planning to increase production three fold?<BR/><BR/>I don't think you would, and if you would voters would kill you at the polls next time. <BR/><BR/>There is no water shortage as you claim, in southern Alberta the water use of the bow is leased 100%. Too bad 35% of that lease is owned by the city of Calgary, who only uses a third of the lease, and returns all the water to the river. Just like most non agricultural users. On the Athabasca, flow volumes entering lake athabasca (the lake at the end of the river the supplies the oilsands) are down 10% from historical levels. That drop is less than the flow drops of other rocky mountain eastern slope fed rivers over the same time period. <BR/><BR/>The oilsands are in no way a guaranteed revenue stream, that is why the federal government put together an incentive package for developing the oilsands in 1997, spearheaded by our old Deputy PM. The plan was also to maintain Canada as a net exporter of oil, so that our currency would not be further depleted by oil purchases abroad. <BR/><BR/>In 1997, oil was at 7 dollars a barrel. Oil has been low in the past, and will be low again. Look at the close to $30 (US) drop in the value of oil since the peak in the past year. <BR/><BR/>These investments aren't short term. The early oilsands plants built in the 70s began to turn a net profit last year. The oilsands projects are not conventional, they are much more industrial in character compared to conventional oil recovery.<BR/><BR/>Remember, every time you (and voters) complain about the high price of gas, you will have to say you took a stand against development of a domestic resource to reduce supply problems.Concerned Albertanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04809909593653580510noreply@blogger.com