Just for some true info (FYI to the Great Awakening readers):
The Keystone pipeline is a wonderful political football... but...
The main portions of the Keystone Pipeline have been built and operating for years. Primarily, the Southern leg of the Keystone, which is a 36" pipeline that flows from Cushing, Oklahoma to Houston, Texas was finished and operating at full capacity about 2014. That part was critical. I know it is operating because I was standing on top of it the day it went into operation. The oil industry also needed to build the 36" Northern section from the Dakotas to Cushing, Oklahoma. It is also finished and operating.
The part that HASN'T been completed yet... and is stalled as a political football, is the Keystone Pipeline crossing the Canadian / U.S. border to tie into the Enbridge Alberta Clipper pipeline at Edmonton, Canada. Nobody needs that section built.
At full production, the oil extraction capability at Alberta oil sands is a bit less than 1 million bpd. At peak, the extraction is usually about 750,000 bpd. The Enbridge Alberta Clipper line flows East carrying this crude oil. At Flanagan, Illinois, there is a 30" Flanagan Pipeline that ties in, that flows bringing 450,000 bpd +/- to Cushing Oklahoma, then through the southern leg of Keystone Pipeline to Houston. Also at Flanagan, Illinois, a 24" Eastern Gulf Pipeline ties in and flows at about 300,000 bpd to Lake Charles, Louisiana. The remainder of the crude flowing through Alberta Clipper pipeline goes to Canada's refineries or other refineries up North.
100% of Alberta Oil Sand extraction capacity is flowing already. It HAS been flowing since 2014. If the Northern section of the Keystone Pipeline were miracled into existence tomorrow... there is nothing for it to carry. It would be a 4th leg on a 3-legged stool. The Flanagan and Eastern Gulf pipelines were installed in the late 1950's. They are cheap transportation, because they are already paid for. The new Northern section of Keystone would be adding $Billions in infrastructure cost to transport the oil to the same place it's already flowing now.
The Northern tie-in leg of the Keystone Pipeline isn't really needed. Maybe there will come a time when it is needed, but probably not for a decade at least.
Politicians love to lie about this pipeline. Democrats use shutting it down to prove that they are "green" and care about the environment. Republicans use it as a point to attack Democrats, who are killing American jobs and "energy independence." In reality, neither side wants that Northern tie-in section to be built. It's a good political argument that makes them campaign donations... and the oil has already been flowing regardless, only the public hasn't figured it out yet. :>)
Just for some true info (FYI to the Great Awakening readers):
The Keystone pipeline is a wonderful political football... but...
The main portions of the Keystone Pipeline have been built and operating for years. Primarily, the Southern leg of the Keystone, which is a 36" pipeline that flows from Cushing, Oklahoma to Houston, Texas was finished and operating at full capacity about 2014. That part was critical. I know it is operating because I was standing on top of it the day it went into operation. The oil industry also needed to build the 36" Northern section from the Dakotas to Cushing, Oklahoma. It is also finished and operating.
The part that HASN'T been completed yet... and is stalled as a political football, is the Keystone Pipeline crossing the Canadian / U.S. border to tie into the Enbridge Alberta Clipper pipeline at Edmonton, Canada. Nobody needs that section built.
At full production, the oil extraction capability at Alberta oil sands is a bit less than 1 million bpd. At peak, the extraction is usually about 750,000 bpd. The Enbridge Alberta Clipper line flows East carrying this crude oil. At Flanagan, Illinois, there is a 30" Flanagan Pipeline that ties in, that flows bringing 450,000 bpd +/- to Cushing Oklahoma, then through the southern leg of Keystone Pipeline to Houston. Also at Flanagan, Illinois, a 24" Eastern Gulf Pipeline ties in and flows at about 300,000 bpd to Lake Charles, Louisiana. The remainder of the crude flowing through Alberta Clipper pipeline goes to Canada's refineries or other refineries up North.
100% of Alberta Oil Sand extraction capacity is flowing already. It HAS been flowing since 2014. If the Northern section of the Keystone Pipeline were miracled into existence tomorrow... there is nothing for it to carry. It would be a 4th leg on a 3-legged stool. The Flanagan and Eastern Gulf pipelines were installed in the late 1950's. They are cheap transportation, because they are already paid for. The new Northern section of Keystone would be adding $Billions in infrastructure cost to transport the oil to the same place it's already flowing now.
The Northern tie-in leg of the Keystone Pipeline isn't really needed. Maybe there will come a time when it is needed, but probably not for a decade at least.
Politicians love to lie about this pipeline. Democrats use shutting it down to prove that they are "green" and care about the environment. Republicans use it as a point to attack Democrats, who are killing American jobs and "energy independence." In reality, neither side wants that Northern tie-in section to be built. It's a good political argument that makes them campaign donations... and the oil has already been flowing regardless, only the public hasn't figured it out yet. :>)
Just FYI.