The Oil Drum

This is a guest post by Roger Blanchard, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and the author of “The Future of Global Oil Production”, McFarland & Company, 2005.

A recent article concerning the upcoming impact of Mexico’s declining oil production, “With Mexico Poised to Deliver World's Greatest Oil Shock Since 1970s, U.S. Seeks Canada's Help” stated the following:

"U.S. industry and government officials have been talking with Canada about a sharp increase in production from the Alberta oil sands region since at least early 2006, according to Canadian press reports. In response, Canadian oil output, nearly all of it from Alberta's oil sands, is forecast to be up 9% this year." (Actually only about half of Canada’s oil production comes from oil sands)

Often, when articles are written about oil supply issues, it appears that the author hadn't actually looked carefully at the data he or she is writing about.