A sticky time for Alberta oil sands

When former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed speaks, he is guaranteed an audience.

When former U.S. Vice President Al Gore speaks, the same applies.

When the two of them, coming as they do from opposite ends of the political spectrum, raised qualms earlier in July about the pace of development in the Alberta oil sands they rattled those who believe output from the sector will triple to 3 million barrels per day by 2015 and could reach 4.7 million bpd in 2020.
And among those paying attention will almost certainly be U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman who made a July 12-14 visit to Alberta to learn firsthand the scope of oil sands expansion and the role the vast resource might play in helping President George W. Bush achieve his goal of drastically reducing oil imports from the Middle East.

Bodman was due for a lively sales pitch from Alberta government and industry leaders about the unlimited potential of the oil sands to provide the U.S. with a secure, long-term source of energy.

Petroleum News