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More regulation needed for Canada oil sands

Reuters -- CALGARY, Alberta, March 17 - Steam-driven projects to extract crude from Canada's oil sands, often held up as more environmentally friendly than mining, have major drawbacks of their own that require more stringent regulation to fix, an environmental think tank said on Wednesday.

The Alberta-based Pembina Institute compared nine projects that employ "in situ" extraction methods -- where steam is pumped into the earth to liquefy the extra-heavy crude so it can be pumped to the surface -- and found all need to make improvements to varying degrees.

"The impacts of in situ have sort of been framed as low-impact oil sands development, but when you look at the data that isn't actually borne out," said Simon Dyer, one of the authors of the report, called "Drilling Deeper."

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Submitted Mar 17, 2010 By: Mudsprings

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,767 Points:631,400 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:15:29 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse ronsimonil: or it will lead to making things worse and worse by trying to prolong our dependency on foreign and domestic oil. Instead, we need to develop alternatives. Not next decade, but starting NOW.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:10,767 Points:631,400 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 19, 2010 4:14:30 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse GTH: it's better to not develop those and waste money on something like this type method. We're better off finding alternatives and do so fast.
gas_too_high Champion Author Columbus Posts:4,372 Points:994,400 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 6:55:30 AM Ignore gas_too_high Report Abuse The Alberta oil sands are as problematic as coal strip mines, but we need to develop both and clean them up as best we can. Canadians, who tend toward PC stances in other areas, acknowledge this. GTH
ronsimonil All-Star Author Illinois Posts:718 Points:152,595 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 5:22:18 AM Ignore ronsimonil Report Abuse In time the process will be improved and become more economical. All technology and new energy scouses need to be utilized.
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:11,520 Points:1,174,180 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 2:16:11 AM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse Oil is dirty, coal is dirtier, we need natural gas, solar and wind power.
DJRIO Champion Author Miami Posts:2,485 Points:457,600 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 2:07:05 AM Ignore DJRIO Report Abuse oil sands only work if the price is above average. to be cost effective for them.
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:3,000 Points:579,900 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 2:02:23 AM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse A rather messy method.
14of45SSR Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:2,107 Points:473,305 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 2:02:13 AM Ignore 14of45SSR Report Abuse Shut down the Alberta Oil Sands & you shut down alot of the USA because they pipe it staight there!
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:3,621 Points:1,341,565 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:57:11 AM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse Every country has its own problems.
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,136 Points:452,775 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:54:55 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse Most people seem to ignore that the easy access oil is almost entirely gone. To get what is left is expensive, dangerous, and very damaging. We need to be working more on improving new sources of energy.
carlsonguitars Champion Author Portland Posts:4,224 Points:698,875 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:48:22 AM Ignore carlsonguitars Report Abuse I agree, the oil sands is horrific!!! Talk about a big mistake, they should get the heck out of there!!!! IT IS NASTY!!!! (Being that I live in the USA, most anyone I speak with has NO IDEA about what is going on in Canada... But my Canadian friends who live close by are TICKED OFF!!!!)
ED6 Champion Author Riverside Posts:5,149 Points:1,000,710 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:48:00 AM Ignore ED6 Report Abuse Regulations has to balance out with the economic concerns.
Edtx2009 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,301 Points:267,665 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:26:08 AM Ignore Edtx2009 Report Abuse If they keep coming up with more new regulations, soon this project will be dead. Hmmm! sounds almost like the U.S.
findcheap Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,663 Points:1,033,690 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:16:55 AM Ignore findcheap Report Abuse this extraction process is a new field
EXTREMESNOW Champion Author Medford Posts:4,522 Points:951,785 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 1:13:09 AM Ignore EXTREMESNOW Report Abuse Too many regulations now days all in the name of safety and going green.
HA4CNN All-Star Author Toronto Posts:986 Points:595,365 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:38:02 AM Ignore HA4CNN Report Abuse Why don't the oil companies use the newer EncapSol technology which is far less polluting,saves natural gas and water.
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,320 Points:719,320 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:27:10 AM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse I wouldn't have thought that was true here
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:7,673 Points:618,205 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:26:05 AM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse Even Canada has whacko enviromentalists who muddy things up with regulations? I thought it was just the US.
rippertoo All-Star Author Tacoma Posts:799 Points:166,910 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:22:56 AM Ignore rippertoo Report Abuse Have to wait and see how all this works out.
visitor_2 All-Star Author Orlando Posts:691 Points:822,830 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:21:00 AM Ignore visitor_2 Report Abuse Regulate????
GMVAN Champion Author Calgary Posts:1,825 Points:428,055 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:20:50 AM Ignore GMVAN Report Abuse They say it not as dirty as people make out.
Ltdc Champion Author Long Island Posts:2,382 Points:723,070 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:20:41 AM Ignore Ltdc Report Abuse Groups frequently find the results they're hoping for.
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:3,821 Points:717,080 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:19:42 AM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse Nobody talks or discloses the water pollution costs or the HEATing costs to distill the OIL from the sand...
bobdec Champion Author Florida Posts:4,279 Points:838,650 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:19:16 AM Ignore bobdec Report Abuse Who caares, drill here
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:8,080 Points:911,685 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:13:42 AM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse our congress doesn't have much to do; let them study it
cathevan Champion Author Manitoba Posts:2,133 Points:524,025 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:11:16 AM Ignore cathevan Report Abuse sure seems like a messy project
la90042 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,402 Points:505,405 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 18, 2010 12:09:33 AM Ignore la90042 Report Abuse need more sources but they do need to be as clean as possible
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,946 Points:818,830 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 11:13:17 PM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse must have a serious "oil filter" for this process.
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:5,792 Points:1,326,080 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 11:03:32 PM Ignore jay4 Report Abuse Indeed, more regulation for public health.
FordF2502001 Champion Author Mississippi Posts:3,072 Points:667,150 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:58:57 PM Ignore FordF2502001 Report Abuse well go ahead and stick a knife it it also.
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:3,667 Points:944,535 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:58:37 PM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse We need to forget foriegn oil & start drilling here
mrbee All-Star Author Little Rock Posts:568 Points:1,526,860 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:57:28 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse Drill
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:4,106 Points:637,550 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:55:58 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Drill--Baby--Drill. Oh, and Steam--Baby--Steam...
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:12,945 Points:1,278,300 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:54:45 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse poor ol' fort mac-50 years ago nobody had ever heard of it, and everybody left it alone..
AtascaderoHound All-Star Author California Posts:557 Points:588,690 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:51:33 PM Ignore AtascaderoHound Report Abuse It's very hard too take something that is very dirty like oil sands and make it clean except in fairy tales.
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:8,434 Points:2,241,615 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:47:18 PM Ignore scrounger Report Abuse enforce existing regulations and add fines that have some bite
ang2010 Veteran Author New York Posts:322 Points:77,175 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:44:10 PM Ignore ang2010 Report Abuse consevrve I agree
vulcan96 Champion Author Ohio Posts:17,937 Points:2,130,095 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:43:42 PM Ignore vulcan96 Report Abuse more nana state regs ?
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:5,534 Points:888,770 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:40:15 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse keep conserving!
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,671 Points:963,610 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:39:22 PM Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse Gotta have regulations.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,943 Points:1,410,410 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:36:21 PM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse I'm thinkin' that could be a nightmare but not enough people up there to care...
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:4,137 Points:803,885 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:35:11 PM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse I bet this story changes depending on who you talk to... I'd go ahead and do it, as soon as possible.
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,122 Points:1,502,365 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:32:25 PM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse Don't know how that's all gonna shake out...
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:11,714 Points:2,061,210 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:31:20 PM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse Forget oil
ItsMorph Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:26,694 Points:2,210,030 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:30:16 PM Ignore ItsMorph Report Abuse Everything has its own drawbacks.
SBlouch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:4,884 Points:1,050,285 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:26:52 PM Ignore SBlouch Report Abuse Here we go again with more regulations. All that needs to be done is to make sure the regulations already in place are followed, enforced. and action against those not following them.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:1,527 Points:167,030 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:25:31 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Anything for oil. Environment be damned.
niceguytx Champion Author Houston Posts:8,958 Points:1,748,750 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:22:06 PM Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse This will increase the price of oil.
Bus561 Champion Author Lexington Posts:11,487 Points:2,242,625 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:16:52 PM Ignore Bus561 Report Abuse More regulations, what a joke!
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,140 Points:210,340 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 17, 2010 10:16:21 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse NEED SOME SMART ONES IN THE TANK TO FIX THIS