Looks like the algae and Sunfuel have some competition!

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12825329.htm

 

I'm not so thrilled about all the natural gas being burned to extract the tar from the dirt, it's adding a lot of pollution and CO2 that Canada really doesn't need, considering we have signed the Kyoto agreement.

 

Hi Clett:

___The Canadian Oil Sands have been profitable for years (when oil first went above $30 per BBl). With the recent price spikes (PO, Hurricane related supply issues, World demand, etc.), I am even considering a career change as the individuals working huge hours for Shell, SunCor, Syncrude … and all the support companies are making huge $’s for the few years they are up there.

___You should look up the area on a map sometime as it is about as remote as one could possibly imagine! I only saw one smaller highway leading to Ft. McMurray – Alberta – Canada and it actually ends there. I can only imagine what winters are like that far north Schwa and I may just become countrymen after all

U.S. energy future rests with development of Canadian oil sands …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

With all the news going on about people trying to get into the USA because of job opportunities, it would be pretty funny if there's a huge run on high paying Canadian jobs. I think there's a lot of folks (myself included) that just can't deal with the cold at all though. There's a good reason Florida, Texas, and California are among the most populated states!

 

It's already getting cold and snowy!

 

Hi Schwa:

___I love the cold myself but I have to ask where the pic was taken at? I think the Ranger and Accord could still receive EPA busting FE in that soup but what happens when its 20 degrees below 0? That is the real question

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

20 below??? 40 above is cold here and thats from me, born near where wayne lives...lol Kevin

 

The picture was taken several km past Summerland, elevation somewhere around 1600 meters, temperature was 1 degree.


Here's a map of the route we took:


The snow was just after the circle that says 97C, and there was some other snow in Manning Park where there's a circle with 3 in it.

 

xcel said: "...what happens when its 20 degrees below 0?"
Wayne, how do I put this? -20F is not cold for Alberta. It gets that cold here (MA) or Chicago..
Some weather stats for Ft. McMurray, Alberta:
Cold -- 24.2 days per year when the min temp is below -30C = -18F
-- Record low temp is -50C = -58F.

WindChill --15.2 days with a wind chill below -40C = -40F
Dark -- 63.8 hours of sunshine in Dec.

I suppose where the tarsands actually are would be colder, which affects the difficulty of getting it out.
Actually I expected it to be colder there; you can see weather like this in Northern New England or New York. I do love this kind of weather.
--Walter

 

Hi Walter:

___I knew there was a good reason for purchasing all the Mobil1 0W-20 I could find earlier this year. Its pour point is a paltry - 57 degrees C which would be perfect for Ft. McMurray

___At least we all know why those brave souls working the Oil Sands projects make so much $’s …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net