Comments on: Canadians Fight Tar Sands, Israelis Fight Oil Shale

By: boris

boris — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:51:09 +0000

PS. Would not it be wonderful if in Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath, Israel(David) would find its oil independence(victory) against oil rich Arab states(Goliath).

And it’s not like Israeli plan to live like Saudi Arabia. Israeli oil imports are going down by few percent each year. But oil will always be needed for military and airplanes. And for gas interruption like last one from Egypt.

By: boris

boris — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:39:22 +0000

From what I read, technology for Israeli Oil Shale is brand new. In opposite of usual shale exploration when tons of dirty water is pumped and polluted underground, in this case underground polluted(oiled) water will be pumped above ground, filtered and used in agriculture. It will give Israel petroleum independence in long-term.

Of cause all test must be done to insure minimal damage to environment. But if you going to go through Israeli beaurocracy and environmental lobby, nothing is going to be done in 10 years. Ask BrightSource why they are working abroad for 20 years and only just started to develop solar fields in their own country right now.

I think this is worth developing. Risk of serious contamination is much lover than risk of energy starvation from neighbours like Turkey and Egypt.

By: Karin Kloosterman

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:52:35 +0000

In reply to Steven.

I am a Canadian who is fighting tar sand development. By way of this blog.
You can find many more of us here:
http://www.tarsandswatch.org/

By: Karin Kloosterman

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:50:09 +0000

In reply to Tafline Laylin. I think Tafline's analogy meant to put the two fights in the same league. Not that the technologies or extraction methods are the same. Two developed countries are looking to squeeze oil from the earth/soil.

By: Karin Kloosterman

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:49:08 +0000

In reply to Steven.

What if the most pristine landscape, biblical even, were to be destroyed in the process?
What kind of message does oil shale production send to the world – when given by a country touting its solar energy innovation?

By: Hadas

Hadas — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:42:52 +0000

Horizontal drilling will be needed to place the heaters underground. In addition to the risk to groundwater, there are additional risks i.e. air polution, public health hazards, underground fire of the shales, ground collapse and more. The impact of the drilling process should not be underestimated. The drilling in the commercial phase will take place 24 hours a day 7 days a week for 30 years! Think about the noise and the dust involved, in the middle of an area with an extreme ecological sensitivity!

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:20:01 +0000

Who are the canadians who are fighting the tar sands developments? Would Ms. Jacobson be equally concerned if this project was taking place elsewhere in the country? How can someone who claims to be looking out for the future of her children and the state of Israel not endorse the possibility of a domestic supply of oil. to say that it should not even be tested is pure perversion of environmental awareness. What will happen to Ms. Jacobsons children when Israel cant import oil or the prices are prohibitively expensive how ill she get to hospital in the event of an emergency. what will happen if the UN imposes a trade embargo on Israel? will our cars, tanks, and planes be fueled by sunshine and rainbows? look what happened when the gas from egypt stopped for a few weeks the power plants reverted to burning diesel fuel to produce electricity. it is a national imperative to know by testing the internal capabilities of the country to supply itself with its basic necessities. Just as it is a persons need to provide his own primary needs.

By: Tafline Laylin

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:21:15 +0000

Robert – it’s a completely different kind of technology called “in-situ.” In a nutshell, the oil shale will be heated, so nothing like the tar sands mining except there is still a risk to groundwater.

By: robert

robert — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:11:19 +0000

Would the shale be drilled for via horizontal drilling or mined like in Canada tar sands?
Thanks