Comments on: No, Canada – There is No Ethical Oil https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/09/canada-not-ethical-oil/ Sustainably Driven. Future Ready. Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:53:58 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Twelvefootdavis https://www.greenprophet.com/2011/09/canada-not-ethical-oil/#comment-21991 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:53:58 +0000 http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=54403#comment-21991 Susan, please publish your facts about the Saudi oil production energy usage. Seeing as Saudi Arabia does not release ANY information of their flaring, water usage, spills, CO2 emitted, what % is heavy, how much is hydroprocessed, etc. I am surprised that you know it is less energy intensive than the Alberta Oil Sands (where all the above information is required to be published).

The ethical question is valid. What is preferable…refineries in the US buying heavy oil from OPEC or from Canada? I know what Green Prophet wants…no oil used. But this simplistic, clueless philosophy will never happen.These refineries are not going to run dry…they are buying this crude, no matter what you want.

So the question is…OPEC or Canada? Before you spout off the old line about oil sands being 20% more CO2 intensive…we are talking about heavy oil refining. As you are likely not a chemical engineer, I’ll make it simple. Heavy oil comes from Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and from the Oil Sands. It is a different feedstock to refineries than conventional crude. The CO2 released in the production of heavy oil is equal, no matter where is comes from…in fact, studies have shown Alberta Oil Sands to be less CO2 intensive than Venezuelan.

Conventional oil is becoming rare. That is why heavy oil is being produced. Saudi Arabia produces more heavy oil than any other country in the world. They also are heavy polluters and are completely unregulated.

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