'Fort McMoney' gets helping hand 03/11/2007
Alberta government pumps C$396 million into region to ease strains on oil sands capital and boomtown for health care, housing and water treatment; opposition parties favor moratorium or slowdown in growth
The price of progress has just cost the Alberta government another C$396 million. That's what the government is pumping into health care, affordable housing, water treatment and other services to ease...

Room for big and small in oil sands 03/04/2007
Suncor Energy rolls out plans for 46 percent hike in production, applying new technology; newcomer North Peace makes initial public offering to support Peace River plans
The veteran is pushing ahead with expansion and the newcomer is testing the market with an initial public offering, as the oil sands keep rolling regardless of doubts hanging over the Alberta governme...

Green protestors turn red over oil sands 03/04/2007
Environmentalists use map on TransCanada Web site to bolster case that Mackenzie natural gas will be diverted to the Alberta oil sands, aiding and abetting production of 'dirty' fuel
With the Alberta oil sands being painted as Canada's leading greenhouse gas ogre, environmentalists seized another chance Feb. 26 to tar the resource. (See related story on page 13.) Appearing before...

It's catch-up time in Alberta 02/25/2007
Action needed if energy-based economy to remain source of prosperity; technology could create energy superpower
The Alberta cash cow is drying up after decades of accounting for 40 percent of total investment in the province, posing a challenge for the government to do what it has long neglected - start figurin...

Oil sands to build global presence 02/25/2007
Consulting firm estimates Alberta resource will account for 25 percent of world's unconventional supplies by 2025
More than three decades of research and development in the once-scorned oil sands of Alberta may now be headed for a major payoff. According to United Kingdom-based Wood Mackenzie, the 175 billion bar...

B.C. sets water rules for coalbed methane 02/25/2007
The British Columbia government is eager to see coalbed methane enter the commercial phase, but not at any price. It has banned the surface discharge of water from coalbed methane operations, heading...

All aboard the Kyoto special 02/25/2007
Canadian and B.C. leaders perform about-turns on Kyoto; Harper ready to comply with greenhouse gas protocol; Campbell wants Alaska to be part of Pacific coast coalition
There's a bandwagon lurching its way across Canada these days, creaking under the weight of those scrambling aboard and groaning at the accompanying rhetoric. Now that politicians of all stripes find...

'Green' rules won't harm economy 02/18/2007
Canada's environment minister assures oil patch leaders new strategy will start with 'intensity-based' targets
The Canadian government will not impose absolute caps on greenhouse gas emissions, GHGs, when it unveils a new "green" plan, but major industries will face emissions targets, senior federal cabinet mi...

Grappling with the nuclear genie 01/28/2007
Canadian, Alberta governments uncertain how to handle public debate; reactor sales by Atomic Energy of Canada also an issue
While governments dither and disagree, the nuclear option to power Alberta's oil sands is taking on a life of its own. Two independent sources expect to know within the next few weeks whether there is...

Alaska senator seeks to 'REFRESH' energy policy 01/21/2007
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski promotes bill in Congress to spur development of renewable fuels, cut carbon dioxide emissions
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation in Congress Jan. 16 aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by developing additional forms of renewable e...

The Terminator turns Agitator in Canada 01/21/2007
New liberal leader takes lesson from Schwarzenegger's get-tough approach to 'dirty fuels,' applies to oil sands
It's just another of those troubling distant early warning calls that sends a nervous tremor through the oil sands, but it plays right into the hands of the man who could be Canada's next prime minist...

Oil Patch Insider 01/21/2007
Husky turns into a lead dog
Once rated the pooch of Canada's integrated oil companies (those who produce, refine and market), Husky Energy has been quietly asserting its pedigree over recent years as it has moved to the head of...

B.C. to overhaul 2002 energy plan 01/14/2007
The British Columbia government is due to unveil a new set of energy policies in January, the first major update of its 2002 package which was credited with opening the door to a C$5 billion a year na...

Enviro clean-up time in Canada 01/14/2007
Prime minister dumps embattled environment minister, says more must be done; uneasy industry waits for action on greenhouse gases
The Canadian government has done an about-face on its environmental priorities, dragging the oil and gas industry back into the unknown. Conceding his administration had lost control of the issue, Pr...

Dems float bid to lock up ANWR's coastal plain 01/14/2007
Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, proposes ban on oil drilling in 1002 Area; Ted Stevens offers plan to raise CAF� standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2017 to reduce greenhouse gases
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., one of the most strident voices against oil drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is now pushing legislation to convert the 1.2 million-acr...

Alaska opposes suit to reduce emissions 01/07/2007
A dozen states are in court trying to force the federal government to reduce automobile emissions that contribute to global warming, but Alaska, where the effects are most apparent, is not one of them...

Alaska graduate honored for dissertation on Siberian lakes 01/07/2007
On Dec. 7 University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate Dr. Katey Walter received the nation's most prestigious honor for doctoral dissertations by the Council of Graduate Schools at the organization's 46th...

EOR research in final stages 01/07/2007
International researchers are involved in a study that is being closely watched around the world by governments and companies anxious to know whether there is a future in burying carbon dioxide, the l...

Energy trusts insist fight 'not over' 12/31/2006
Going directly to investors in a C$10 million campaign, coalition of energy trusts is entering federal election arena
Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty issued an "end of story" declaration Nov. 18. Energy trust executives retaliated with a vow to continue their fight, gambling C$10 million that they can yet win...

Rolling out royalty review 12/24/2006
Alberta's new premier moves quickly to start public review of government returns from oil sands; plans to select panel of experts to hold 'transparent' hearings
Alberta's newly installed Premier Ed Stelmach has wasted no time embarking on his first priority - a public review of the oil sands royalty structure - despite sharp divisions between the petroleum in...

Political landscape shaken up 12/10/2006
New Alberta premier plans public scrutiny of oil sands royalties, wants to keep more bitumen refining in province; new federal Liberal leader has 'green' agenda, Kyoto Protocol at top of his list
In an age when political surprises are few and far between, Canada experienced two upheavals in the space of 24 hours that could have deep consequences for the oil and gas industry. Stephane Dion was...

Carbon dioxide capture elusive 12/03/2006
Governments slow to embrace overtures for incentives to store worst of greenhouse gases, despite warnings burying CO2 essential
It seems like a no-brainer. You capture carbon dioxide - rated the greatest culprit among greenhouse gas emissions - from production, upgrading or refining operations and ship it by pipeline to be eit...

Time running out to build roads 11/26/2006
Alberta regulator warns government window closing to provide infrastructure, social services to accommodate oil sands rapid pace
The Alberta energy regulator came close earlier in November to stepping outside its mandated role and entering the political realm by telling its government master that there isn't much time available...

Sands producers taking in their dirty laundry 11/26/2006
Two new oil sands technologies report solid results from trials to lower natural gas, water while developing bitumen resources
Taking heat for its token efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, Canada's petroleum industry - particularly its oil sands sector - is making quiet progress toward cleaning up its operations. But...

Oil sands barrel overflows 11/19/2006
Mined output soars, Devon and Total caught in price grip, natural gas consumption a worry, nuclear power gets a political lift
Sifting through the latest grains from the oil sands seldom fails to yield a mix of the good, the bad, the ugly and the fascinating. The last couple of weeks have produced the following: ...