Cons-As far as extraction methods go, the ones used in the Alberta oil sands are among the most carbon-intensive. When compared to the average crude oil processed in the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from the Alberta oil sands are approximately five to 15 per cent higher because the oil is too deep to be extracted using traditional The Cons of Oil Shale. 1. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the oil industry. There will be an impact to the local population base that is focus on oil shale. There will be increased truck traffic, more rigs traveling to sites, and even more methane in the local atmosphere as the tight oil is broken apart and then extracted. 2. Oil sands can be used as an energy resource and the large quantities of deposits in Canada eliminates the need to import oil from foreign countries. This will create more jobs in Canada for the processing of oil. Aerial view of a tailings pond north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. One of the chief human health concerns associated with oil sands development is the leakage of contaminated wastewater into drinking water supplies. Cons: - The cost of processing, refining and upgrading the bitumen from the tar sands is extremely expensive and harmful to the environment in almost every way - Even though we have large amounts of the oil, majority of it gets sent to the United States, even when the prices of gasoline are continually rising in Canada - If the price of crude oil were to ever drop a great deal, Canada’s economy as a whole will plummet. Oil sands recovery processes include extraction and separation systems to separate the bitumen from the clay, sand, and water that make up the oil sands. Because it is so thick (viscous), it also requires dilution (make thinner or liquefy to make it flow through pipelines better.
It isn’t just the companies and governments that can profit from oil energy, but there must be enough money available to make an investment for individuals to get involved. What Are the Cons of Oil Energy? 1. By definition, oil energy is a finite resource. There are vast fields of oil to harvest. Tar sands and shale can provide oil as well. Meanwhile on the climate front, oil sands compete with, weaken, and delay emerging clean energy industries. This is a huge con, particularly when the IPCC is calling for immediate action. A renewable energy economy is needed NOW. Oil sands set this back. Some opponents say extracting oil from sands is too costly and a bad investment. I once lamented about the poor quality of the oil sands. It has a low specific gravity, is mixed with silt, sand and brackish water, is located under swampy terrain that sees temperatures as cold
Pros and cons: Alberta oil sands. A scientific panel said Tuesday that weaknesses in measuring pollution from the Alberta oil sands must be corrected. Pollution is one argument against the oil sands development. Global News takes a look at the pros and cons involved in developing the oil sands. Pros & Cons of Oil Sands Summarized by Walter Sorochan, Posted 2009 Updated February 10, 2011. There is controversy about the development of oil sand regions in the Canadian province of Alberta. There are major concerns about pollution of the environment, pollution of the Athabasca river, high incidence of cancer among indigent people in the
Cons Enormous GHG emissions. Oil sands are already Canada’s largest source of CO2 emissions. Relatively low net energy return compared to other sources Oil sands require too much water to be sustainable. Oil sands require about 4 barrels of water for every one barrel extracted. This is far too much, is a strain on local water resources, is costly, consumes significant amount of energy in the piping of the water, and leaves polluted ponds behind.
Cons-As far as extraction methods go, the ones used in the Alberta oil sands are among the most carbon-intensive. When compared to the average crude oil processed in the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from the Alberta oil sands are approximately five to 15 per cent higher because the oil is too deep to be extracted using traditional The Cons of Oil Shale. 1. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the oil industry. There will be an impact to the local population base that is focus on oil shale. There will be increased truck traffic, more rigs traveling to sites, and even more methane in the local atmosphere as the tight oil is broken apart and then extracted. 2. Oil sands can be used as an energy resource and the large quantities of deposits in Canada eliminates the need to import oil from foreign countries. This will create more jobs in Canada for the processing of oil. Aerial view of a tailings pond north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. One of the chief human health concerns associated with oil sands development is the leakage of contaminated wastewater into drinking water supplies. Cons: - The cost of processing, refining and upgrading the bitumen from the tar sands is extremely expensive and harmful to the environment in almost every way - Even though we have large amounts of the oil, majority of it gets sent to the United States, even when the prices of gasoline are continually rising in Canada - If the price of crude oil were to ever drop a great deal, Canada’s economy as a whole will plummet. Oil sands recovery processes include extraction and separation systems to separate the bitumen from the clay, sand, and water that make up the oil sands. Because it is so thick (viscous), it also requires dilution (make thinner or liquefy to make it flow through pipelines better.