Alberta Oil Pipeline through BC;

While the liberals are prepared to allow the pipeline if enough money is available to BC, this is one of those times that passing on the Northern pipeline is the only answer.

There is far to much at stake to allow the Northern Pipeline to Kitimat and super tankers in our fiords.

A spill of magnitude will happen with a disasterous outcome that BC cannot accept.

Send the oil eastern Canada to replace imported oil from the middle east.

why worry?

China would insist we enjoy the same standards they have, it would only be fair:

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=391&catid=10&subcatid=66

Corporations exist to

Corporations exist to externalize costs and Enbridge FULLY externalizes environmental costs. BC should sacrifice it's resource (our coast and ports) o a corporation can exploit Alberta's environment to profit by sending tar sludge to China? Got it. Looks like a lose, lose, win win to me with the losers being the people of Alberta and BC and the winners being the shareholders of Enbridge and the companies currently destroying northern Alberta and Alberta's politicians

Pipeline are not all equal!

The weight of the oil and the line friction of the oil is called "head pressure" The higher the oil has to be lifted, the greater the head pressure.

Exercise:
Pi R Sq X H or radius of the pipeline times the elevation it has to lift. Petroleum is reasonably accurate taken at 8 lbs per gallon.

There is lots of talk about pipelines but no talk about the power to run the pumps that lift the oil! Very high lifts over high grades can require several pumping stations. Depending on lift and height they could use the power of a small city.

Natural gas pipelines now running slack going east, I would guess are made of a lighter gauge steel as their initial requirements were not for liquids. Natural gas shipped in Liquid form however would be close to the 8 lbs cu foot. (I'll leave you to covert to metric)

What I'm saying here is dig for more information; ask the questions! Phantom spills can be alarming and unreasonable hindrance to the industry.

However a poorly conceived design on a pipeline or a cheaped out version could be a national disaster.

Ask the questions!

the only question we should ask is:

When will be the cancellation announcement?

Refining

What is the big problem with refining the tar sands near the source. Why does this dangerous mixture of bitumen and whatever kind of liquifier have to be shipped?

What are the obstacles to upgrade to Brent light right in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

Than we could demand pipeline safety. It is clear of this research, that neither the Alberta or Federal governments have addressed or even acknowledged pipeline safety. The record is completely unacceptable and all pipelines must be checked for fissures.

This is a WAR we will win!

The people of BC love their home too much to just throw away! Alberta's premier insults us by even asking. Remember, this is a province with a moratorium on offshore drilling!

Cash cow!

As far as Alberta, government and producers, are concerned, there is plenty of profit left over, that the occasional oilspill (tarspill) is of little concern!
Remember they are only in it for the money --
When (not if) BC gets contaminated, so what? spin doctors will find a good excuse.

Starla

It's about time we looked at removing that as well.

snert

So you figure that offshore drilling is just fine?
What is the hurry to drain all our rescources? Are you scared that our kids and grandkids may inherit anything worthwhile?

Given time, chances are that better methods will develop to do this safely, and if not leave the damned stuff where it is!

hg

Well, it seems they'd rather spend $5Billion@ on two pipelines, rather than $10Billion on a refinery.

BTW - there is something like a 1,000 foot drop in altitude between the tarsands and Winnipeg if the pipeline were to be built in an easterly direction. That's about a one foot drop per mile. Shouldn't need much by way of pumping stations.....

The Enbridge Pipe Line Won't be built but the oil will flow

A couple of points.
I'm no fan of Enbridge, they've mishandled this 'til there is no way it will ever be built, people who don't understand MODERN pipeline technology (as opposed to some lines Engbridge have inherited as they bought companies) are using spills from outdated lines to measure what could happen on the Northern Gateway line. But and here's the big BUT - oil is going to be move by rail which is a much more dangerous method but the CNR have been moving tankers across the north for about a century & they will move the oil to storage in Kitimat. The biggest losers are the Native bands that signed on to get paid for the route through their territory won't get a dime. But the oil will still go to market.

pipelines

The bitumen should flow east, to refineries already in operation in Canada. No amount of money in Christy's pocket can justify allowing the possibility of damage to forest, fishery, coastal areas and potable water. Just say NO.

Dix on the pipeline and tankers.

I just got back from the trip to the North Coast, visiting communities and following the tanker route from the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline with MLAs Gary Coons and Robin Austin.

We were led on our trip by Art Sterritt, Executive Director of Coastal First Nations, Marven Robinson, Councillor of the Gitga’at Nation, and Doug Neasloss, Elected Chief of the Kitasoo/Xaixais.

Travelling from Kitimat to Kitimat Village, Hartley Bay, Klemtu and Bella Bella, and places in between, I was struck by the generosity of the people, diversity and beauty of the environment, the abundance of marine wildlife, and the challenges of travelling on some of the most difficult and dangerous waterways in the world.
And everywhere I went I met people, First Nations and non-First Nations alike, overwhelmingly opposed to Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.

This opposition to Enbridge is grounded in concerns over the severe risks it poses to the environment and region's way of life and prospects.
In addition, all communities in the region from the Haisla in Kitimaat Village to the Heltsiuk in Bella Bella have a strong commitment to economic development and jobs.

People in the region see Enbridge Northern Gateway as a threat and a risk not only to their environment but to their economic development as well. Their view, surely as much as the view of oil companies, needs to be considered when we assess the national interest on the project.
Our determination to oppose Enbridge's application was strengthened by meeting some of the people most affected by the proposal and listening to their voices this past week.

We've posted some photos from the trip. Take a look at them and share with your friends.

If you haven't had a chance, sign our letter opposing the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.

-Adrian

ADRIAN DIX
LEADER, BC NDP

another point: security

it is one thing to make a technically "safe" pipeline in terms of engineering failures. Just grossly over-build it.

How though will they keep it from being ruptured by bombing? There is enough strong feeling about this to make that a distinct possibility - if not a certainty. Do they propose a standing army? The War Measures Act made permanent?

Security?

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/FARC-Steps-Up-Attacks-on-Colombian-Energy-Infrastructure.html
After a lull since 2008, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have resumed attacks on Colombia’s oil infrastructure, launched 14 attacks this year alone on a major pipeline run by Ecopetrol SA (ECOPETL), which carries about 70,000 barrels a day of crude to the Caribbean coast.

already oil flowing through BC watersheds

The Kinder Morgan TransMountain pipeline already flows with tar sand crude to Vancouver and through three main river watersheds.

Knowing just the number of spills will not provide a full picture. The questions needing answers are:

When was the pipeline that spilled built?
What procedures were in place to ensure quality?
Have procedures and knowledge helped in reducing or eliminating spills from pipelines?
How often are pipelines inspected?
What role has government deregulation played in the high rate of pipeline spills?
Does Canada need more pipeline regulations with teeth and more in the field government inspectors?

Oil and Gas Journal 1998

This should open up some eyes...from 1998.

"Canada's aging oil and gas pipeline system poses a growing risk to public safety and the environment, says the federal Auditor General, Denis Desautels. A report by Desautels said that the ability of the National Energy Board (NEB) to exercise its safety responsibilities is at risk due to a weak inspection process and understaffing."

HARPER RULES

Please, please, please, can't you people understand that as we go to Wall Mart and buy all of those things made in China we are causing a huge imbalance in our trade deficit with that same China.

Only our illustrious leader, Herr Harper seems to understand this. With all of those Chinese collecting our Canadian dollars we must provide something for them to spend those dollars on. Why not Alberta's dirty tar-crude, we sure as hell don't want it ourselves.

Let's repatriate our Canadian dollars and to hell with those namby pamby British Columbians who want to protect their enviroment.

Kinder Morgan

Bitumen is already passing through an old 59 yr.Kinder Morgan pipeline in the Fraser Valley, already, friends and neighbours; in Kamloops, Nicola Valley, Hope, Chilliwack Sardis Vedder,Sumas, Abbotsford, Ft. Langley, Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby. See http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/op-e/Thomson+Bitumen+already+quietly+flowing+through/6932298/story.html
There have been ruptures/spills in Burnaby in 2007 in the pipeline there and a rupture on Sumas Mtn. Feb 2012 causing illness due to toxic gases escaping from the bitumen.
To get the solid bitumen to pass through pipelines, toxic dilutents must be injected to thin the viscosity; chemicals such as,benzine - cancer linked,hydrogen sulfide. PAH's - poly aromatic hydrocarbons heavy metals and other chemicals are not just left behind in the tailing ponds around Ft.McMurray to ooze into the Athabasca River and drift along to First Nations settlements in the water and fish to cause a myriad of bizarre cancers. No, those chemicals are coming through a pipeline near you and me, maybe even in your backyard and your waterways and Aquifers.
Dilbit is * more corrosive due to heavy sediment load (like sandblasting the inside of the pipe) *It is pumped through at much higher temperatures,1440psi *much higher pressure and *puts tremendous strain on welds,valve connections, changes in elevation and is most susceptable to corrosion near streams.You bet we will suffer oil ruptures in the Lower Mainland. Big time! Keep informed about your Fraser Valley at; http://pipe-up.net/

Fiat lux

Thanks for passing on the BC-NDP press release.

It is interesting that Mr. Dix continually refers to the resistance he encounters to the 'Enbridge Northern Gateway'. Does this language imply that BC-NDP would not object to the same pipeline route but constructed by another company? Or that a pipeline constructed using another route through BC would be acceptable?

Politicians, regardless of the colour of hat they wear, are usually slimy creatures. I think the people of BC should insist that their politicians use language that is definitive - no pipeline by no company nowhere through BC.

correction to Calgary Herald re; bitumen load KM

http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/op-ed/Thomson+Bitumen+already+quietly+flowing+through/6932298/story.html