Critiques
M,S., Jordaan (2012) Land and Water Impacts of oil sands Production in Alberta. ACS Publication.
J., Best(2008) Alberta's Oil Sands: Key issues and Impacts. Maple leaf web. Retrieved on November 17, 2015 from: http://mapleleafweb.com/features/alberta-s-oil-sands-key-issues-and-impacts#sources
Discussion Questions
Conclusion
Land and Water Impacts of Oil Sands Production in Alberta
- Technology is an important factor in reclamation of our land and water recources
- We can make little improvements
- 2 challenges we are working on improving: "The need to better quantify impacts and the other is to better address those that are not currently well managed.
How well prepared are we to manage these impacts?
- Water markets have begun to emerge in Alberta due to water constraints
- Water Management Framework
Thirsty for information of water Quality
- The Gover't of Alberta has to monitor water quality more closely
- Elevated levels of PACs found down stream
- Wet Landscape Approach
Water and Land impacts are inherently local
It is necessary to consider local land and water availability and use due to the local nature of the impact
By: Sarah M. Jordaan
As oil sands production rises, so will water consumption
How Do these impacts compare to other transportation fuel options?
- It is important to keep them in perspective in comparison with other transportation fuel options
- Surface mines developed on peat lands are currently reclaimed to a mixture of uplands and wetlands.
Thank you!
2020:3.2 million of barrels a day
2025: 4.1 million barrels a day
2030: 4.8 million barrels a day
Surface Mining and In Situ Recovery Impacts
- Surface mining results in conversion of large tracts of land
- In Situ Recovery impacts fragment landscapes
- Both of which result in ecological impacts
Summary
Surface Mining
- Main points of this article are :
- The growing concern about environmental Impacts of Oil Sands
- Primary oil sands extraction technologies
- Water quality and use
Oil Sands Extraction Technologies
Two Technologies are used: surface mining and In Situ recovery
Surface mining: "Best suited to widespeard layers of material such as coal, or near surface bodies such as uranium
In Situ Recovery: "Used for extracting deeper deposits"
In Situ Recover Process
Increase of Oil Production and Impacts
- grown from 0.7 to 1.6 million barrels per day since 2000 and is expected to double
- 140 000 km of of oil sand Resource
- Concerns about Tailing Ponds