[Codiac]

Originally Posted by turnandburn

In northern Alberta they are producing Oil sands, I don't know if thats the same as oil shale, but either way they use the same process to produce. We have being producing this oil sands for years now, im not sure how long but i would say at least 15 years or more.

Many of the articles written on the US Oil Shale is compared to the Oil Sands in Alberta. A very similar process but there are a bunch of newer technologies being developed to reduce the amount of damage to the surrounding landscape. Shell is testing a new process that heats the rock and forces the Kerogen out of the ground. To contain any damage to the water they are using a Freeze wall as a containment barrier. They also are saying that they have a new way to reduce the amount of water needed for each barrel of oil produced. Currently Canada is ranked #2 in the world for proven oil reserves behind Saudi Arabia and their Oil Sands are part of this equation from what I can tell. Canada did the right thing by persuing their Oil Sands even when oil prices bottomed out. Most things I have read show Canada has been producing and developing Oil Sands for around 30 years now. They have greatly improved the process since the begining and I think the US should follow their model to start producing our own Oil Shale.

Imagine.....The Unites States and Canada holding and producing the largest oil reserves on the planet....That sure would change things wouldn't it.