Western Canada holds masive reserve of oil trapped on surface and underground. Mixed with the soil, extraction and refining of the heavy bitumen require fossil energies and volumes of water that leave behind a dark trail of concerning pollution. The largest oil fields stand north of Alberta's Fort McMurray, a modern age boomtown. June-July 2008.
Floating scarecrows and air air guns installed around the tailings ponds to deter any birds and animals from coming near it or landing on like flocks of ducks. During the process of separating bitumen from the tar sands, large amounts of water are mixed in with the sand, and once the oil has been removed, the leftover mixture of water, sand, clay and residual bitumen - known as tailings - has to be stored in a stable location so that the solution can settle and separate. The storage facilities are known as tailings ponds. 27 June 2008.
Natural bitumen is everywhere around Fort Mc Murray, in many areas surfacing the ground. On a hot summer day, it melts while remaining sticky. 29 June 2008.
Giant hauling truck Caterpillar CAT 797B operating with Albian Sands oil field, in Fort Mc Murray, Alberta. The CAT 797B can carry a 400 tons load of tar sands. It's total gross weight of 590,000kg then exceed the Airbus A-380's 560 tons maximum take off weight. Each scoop of giant Bucyrus 495HF mining shovel contains 100 tons of tar sands. 25 June 2008.
A fully loaded giant mining truck Caterpillar CAT 797B lumbers out the mining pit at Albian Sands oil field, in Fort Mc Murray, Alberta. The CAT 797B can carry a 400 tons load of tar sands. It's total gross weight of 590,000kg then exceed the Airbus A-380's 560 tons maximum take off weight. 25 June 2008.
Just moving in to a new built house at a residential expansion area in Fort Mc Murray. Local accommodations are scarce and expensive in the booming town.
Patch of shrinking green amid oil sands extraction from an open-pit mine north of Fort Mc Murray, Alberta. 30 June 2008.
Canada Day parade in Fort Mc Murray main avenue. 01 July 2008.
Landscape around Fort Mc Murray made of muskeg (wet land) and boreal forest. A fragile bio system that takes long to regenerate. 30 June 2008.
Clearing boreal forest on an oil company concession near Fort Mc Murray. 05 July 2008.
Athabasca river runs between tailing ponds and bitumen upgrader (bitumen has to be refined to oil before flowing in pipelines toward refinery) of Suncor oil company. The tailing ponds holding used water loaded with toxic waste are kept from leaking in the river says the oil industry. First Nation communities living downstream claim otherwise. 30 June 2008.
On Doran et Tanya marriage, best men pose for the photographer near Athabasca river in Fort Mc Murray. June 2008.
Natural bitumen is everywhere around Fort Mc Murray, even surfacing the ground as the black spot left on the cliff. 06 July 2008.
Bucyrus 495HF mining shovel operating in Albian Sands open pit, in Fort Mc Murray, Alberta. Each scoop of giant Bucyrus 495HF mining shovel contains 100 tons of tar sands. 25 June 2008.
Workers chilling at a restaurant in downtown Fort Mc Murray. 28 June2008.
Floating scarecrows and air air guns installed around the tailings ponds to deter any birds and animals from coming near it or landing on like flocks of ducks. During the process of separating bitumen from the tar sands, large amounts of water are mixed in with the sand, and once the oil has been removed, the leftover mixture of water, sand, clay and residual bitumen - known as tailings - has to be stored in a stable location so that the solution can settle and separate. The storage facilities are known as tailings ponds. 27 June 2008.
During a media tour, presentation of an giant hauler truck Caterpillar CAT 797B operating with Albian Sands oil field, in Fort Mc Murray, Alberta. The CAT 797B can carry a 400 tons load of tar sands. It's total gross weight of 590,000kg then exceed the Airbus A-380's 560 tons maximum take off weight. 25 June 2008.
Oil company worker's on a day off at their trailers and mobile homes camp as they prefer to live in the forest, saving on expensive housing fares in Fort Mac Murray city. 29 June 2008.
Syncrude bitumen upgrader north of Fort Mc Murray. Heavy bitumen has to be refined in upgrader plants before flowing in pipelines toward oil refinery. 05 July 2008.
Drilling rig at a construction site of an extraction plant using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) technology to recover oil.
Deep tar sands are warmed with injected steam so the bitumen can be pumped. Production of steam trough fossile energy causes the massive CO2 emission. This drilling rig was built in the boreal forest near Fort Mc Murray. 30 June 2008.
Road delivery of huge Michelin 55/80R63 XDR radial tires for giant mining truck Caterpillar CAT 797B. Size and capacity of giant mining trucks depend on progress by tyre manufacturer. Each tire weight 5,3 tons, has a 4 meter diameter and cost over 40,000$. 02 July 2008.