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The latest Statistics Canada numbers show several interesting changes that occurred in the Canadian oil and natural gas market during the year between June 2008 and June 2009. Production of crude oil and equivalent hydrocarbons actually increased during that time, at the expense of imports. More oil was exported during that time and less of it was refined in Canada. Natural gas saw some dramatic trends as imports into Canada increased by 89.3 per cent over that time period with production, domestic sales and exports all falling during that time
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Strict new green standards for power stations are on the horizon (more…)

The Afro-Albertan connection

Western media coverage of violence in the Niger Delta has diverted attention away from Nigeria’s impressive economic progress. Paul Michael Wihbey, President of Washington-based energy consulting firm GWEST, draws on his in-depth working knowledge of West Africa to report on Nigeria’s energy-driven upswing as well as its heavy oil industry’s promising Alberta connection. (more…)

Unlocking the cages of fire

Locked up in icy molecular cages hundreds of metres beneath the world’s permafrost and continental shelves is energy’s last frontier: enough clean-burning gas to power the entire planet for a century or two. And, unlike the 1950s conspiracy theory about water that could run your car forever, this source – gas hydrates – is for real. Graham Chandler explores burning questions surrounding the planet’s most abundant clean hydrocarbon. (more…)

Aside from inspiring an entire cottage industry of overnight experts, one side effect of this fall’s Alberta royalty review was the practice of faultfinding – particularly of the oil & gas industry. But in accepting the overall message of the review panel that industry has been blatantly robbing past, present and future Albertans of their fair share of the economic rent from hydrocarbon production, the government may have done more than sow the seeds of its own corpulent destruction. It just might take the rest of us with it. Sebastian Gault explores the issue. (more…)