Post on 05-Feb-2016
description
The Keystone XL Pipeline
Paridhi R.
Outline
Background Information • What is it?• Crude Oil• Construction• Stakeholders
The Big Issue
What is the Keystone?
Transports synthetic crude oil and “dilbit” from the tar oil sands
(Keystone pipeline, 2012)
Crude Oil
(What is crude oil and what is it used for?, 2004)
Tar Sands
Composed of Carbon-rich materials
Used for gasoline, etc.Canada is the world’s largest
bitumen depositor (Keystone XL is
Pipeline is Devastating to the Environment and Will Not Create Jobs, 2012.)
What is the Keystone XL?
Expansion of the Keystone From Alberta to TexasDestroy ecosystems and wildlifeProposed in 2008
Phases of the Pipelines
Phase 1Phase 2Phase 3Phase 4
Phase 1
The Keystone pipeline Already been
constructed (since 2010)
Phase 2
Expansion from Nebraska to Oklahoma
Constructed in 2011
Phase 3
Proposed expansion from Oklahoma to Texas
Phase 4
Proposed expansion from Alberta to Montana
The Route
Purpose of the XL
Transport crude oil and tar sands oil to the US
Construction?
Rumors say early 2013Rejected on January 18, 2012 Re-proposal
by TransCanada $7.0 billion+
(Keystone xl pipeline, 2011)
(Keystone xl pipeline, 2011)
Why was the project rejected?
Oil spill response plansSafetyGreen house gas concerns
Keystone pipeline, 2012)
Stakeholders
ObamaCanadian GovernmentConstruction workersUS citizensCanadian citizensTransCanada
TransCanada
Providers of gas/oil related storageResponsible for the North
American energy infrastructure Shareholder in, and own TC
PipeLines LP
(About us, 2009)
Review
36-inch, stretching 2000 miles
Through Canada to the USTar sands heated 150
degrees+Carry 900 000 barrels of crude
oil
(Brecher & Smith, n.d)
THE BIG QUESTION
What negative environmental
impacts will the Keystone XL
Pipeline cause?
Impacts
Pollutes:• Pipeline spills• Air • Water
Harms:• Wildlife
Pipeline Spills
Previous oil spills effect the permit of oil pipelines
Long-term damage to the economy and ecosystem
Air Pollution
Harmful to the air we breatheConstruction of pipeline causes
general pollutionHigher
Carbon emissions
Water Pollution
Ogallala AquiferSeparating crude
oil from sand, silt and clay
Using 400 million gallons of water per day
Tailing ponds
Harming Wildlife
Toxic sludge gets into waterwaysCO2 emissions melting ice capsSpills coat animals in oil
(Animals | oil sands truth, n.d.)
Canadian Government
Approve of the Keystone XL“Better for the economy.” (Savage, 2012)
US Government
Feel that it should be constructed
Solutions
Recovering alternative oil sourcesKeep protesting
(Worthington, 2012)
Conclusion
Produce 1 barrel of crude oil:• Extracting 4 tons of Earth• Contaminating millions of barrels of fresh
water• Burning natural gas• Creating tailing ponds
Is it worth
it?