The oil and gas industry and the environment always seem to have been painted as opponents to one another. However, there’s more to their relationship than just “oil is bad, environment is good”.
Welcome to the fourth installment in our Propel Oil 101 series. As you can guess this time, we are going to talk about the more controversial side of oil. . . oil and the environment. If you haven’t already, make sure to go back and check out our previous Oil 101 blogs as they’ll help keep you up to speed with some of the terminology and talking points.
Oil and the environment are not a new conflict. As long as there has been people pulling crude, bitumen, and other petroleum-based oils from the earth, there has always been issues that have come up the pipeline too. There is no denying that the oil extraction and refining process creates green house gasses; it’s a fact of the industry. Unfortunately, when one mentions oil and the environment, many are reminded of the environmental damages caused by numerous recent oil spills.
However, as safety protocols and technology continuously advance, the ways in which we transport oil continue to improve. Nowadays, pipelines and rail have become the most common form of oil transportation here in Canada. Today, there are about 840,000 kilometres of transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines in Canada, which transport up to 3.8 million barrels of crude oil per day and 14.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day, and all of this has been going on since 1853! The numbers for rail transportation are much lower at 217,000 billion gallon-miles, in part due to the fact that transportation via rail is less safe than through the use of pipelines. Pipelines, although not 100% foolproof, are the safest mode of transportation for oil and natural gas.
Myth vs. Fact
Now let’s switch gears and talk about some common misconceptions regarding oil and the environment.
- Oil cannot be recycled or reused; Myth! Almost all types of waste oil have the potential to be recycled safely, saving a precious non-renewable resource and at the same time minimizing environmental pollution. In most cases, used oil can be reused after reconditioning with or without the addition of any additives, giving this used oil a new lease on life. Regeneration, reclamation or recycling of spent lubricating oils has become an important processing industry, adopting various techniques for oil purification. There are different recycling requirements and protocols across the provinces so make sure to double-check what your local regulations are before you drop off that pail of oil at your local recycling depot.
- Most oil pollution comes from oil tankers that become stranded or ships that wash out their holds at sea; Myth! More than twice as much oil gets into the environment each year because of sloppy activities involving automobiles and boats. At least 200 million gallons of oil are dumped each year in the U.S. by people who change their own engine oil. Overfilling auto gas tanks also contributes to the mess, as do spills when refilling outboard-motor tanks. All these small spills add up to be more than the average tanker spill. So, that means when you’re turning wrenches at home, take extra precautions when changing your oil so you don’t spill, and if you do make sure to properly clean and dispose of the soiled oil.
- Canada’s oilsands produce “dirty” oil; Myth! While processing oilsands oil is labour intensive and does require land, water, and tailing ponds, the oil and gas industries working in our oilsands have vastly improved over the years. In fact, the average emissions intensity of the oil sands extraction process has fallen 21% since 2009. The companies behind this decline have put great effort toward “cleaning up” their extraction, refining, and reclamation processes. Even though the extraction process for oil and gas can change the land immensely, major oil and gas corporations have continued to put their investments toward environmental reclamation. For example, back in 2011 Suncor, celebrated the planting of their 5 millionth tree at Wapisiw Lookout, the world’s first tailings pond to be re-vegetated and reclaimed. Now that’s a lot of trees!
- Ashless lubricants are better for the environment; Fact! Ashless lubricants are products that do not contain metallic residues, or oxides, after combustion. For example, in hydraulic oils, ZDDP (zinc dithiophosphate anti-wear), calcium and magnesium (detergent/dispersant) are major contributors to metallic residues. These chemicals that form “ash”, are frequently used in engine oils and hydraulic fluids. Ashless industrial oils are therefore lubricants that are formulated without metallic additives and are mainly used for the following purposes: circulation oil used in humid environments, oil that has been rated environmentally acceptable or biodegradable, and food-grade oil.
- Renewable energy development conflicts with the interests of pipeline companies; Myth! Many pipeline companies are actually invested in sources of renewable energy. For example, Enbridge is invested in 16 wind farms, and a TransCanada compressor station in BC provides emission-free electricity for the province’s power grid! And with the growing interest in renewable energy resources, more and more companies have been jumping on board this “green” movement.
Now when it comes to such topics as oil and the environment it’s not possible to cover every single detail pertaining to the science and the history of such a hot-button issue. So, here at Gregg’s, we encourage you to stay curious and continue on learning and listening to what the experts on these topics have to say.
Next time on Gear Up with Gregg’s Propel Oil 101 we are going to cover, in greater detail, passenger car oil! And you’ll even get a sneak peek at just some of our very own oil products we have to offer here at Gregg Distributors. But if you’ve liked what you’ve learned so far, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel! If you have any questions, you can give us a call! See you in our next Propel Oil 101 blog!
