This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of CAPP.
Petroleum. This commodity is the hot topic being discussed in Canada right now. There are many positive and negative views about what should be done about petroleum, and there are also many Canadians that are also undecided on this issue.
With this post, I am not going to ask you to pick a side where crude oil and petroleum are concerned. I want to share with you just how much of a role petroleum and crude oil play in our lives in both the obvious, as well as in the subtle ways.
What is oil sand? It is a naturally occurring mixture of sand, clay or other minerals, water, and bitumen (a heavy, thick, sticky oil) that needs to be treated before refineries can use it to create products such as gasoline deep in the earth. Oil sand can be found in many places in the world, and Canada is one such location.
Here are some facts that you may not be aware of where crude oil/petroleum and Canada are concerned:
• Our country has the third largest oil reserves worldwide, and a vast majority of it (about 97%) is found in the oil sands. The oil held there has the capacity to fill 168 billion barrels that would last for 100 years of production.
• There are only three deposits of the Oil Sands in Canada: The Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Since Canada’s energy consumption will be growing in the future, the Oil Sands should still be regarded as a source of help to provide for this need.
• Over the next few years, the Oil Sands could also provide over 800 000 jobs to Canadians.
These pieces of information should be taken into consideration when discussing the topic of petroleum.
Petroleum is also present in our everyday lives in so many ways! I challenged myself by trying to track all of the ways I came into contact with products that contain petroleum. Let me tell you, it was just about everywhere I turned in my home.
When I got out of bed this morning, I put on my “power suit,” both pieces contain materials made from petroleum.
I then brushed my teeth, and there it was again! My toothbrush and my toothpaste are made from petroleum products.
I then looked over to my shelf that holds all of our lotions, sunscreens and other large bottles of bathroom toiletries and just about all of them are made from or the containers are made from petroleum, even the containers.
It was around my hair products, too! My comb, even my hair tie is made, in part, from petroleum! It is also in my cell phone, my laptop and the driveway that was paved just yesterday! I gave up tracking my encounters with petroleum after about 30 minutes. It was a real eye-opener to see just how much petroleum has become part of the life I lead.
In the more obvious ways, it is also a part of our commute. Whether you drive, bike, or use your own two feet, products made with petroleum are with us in most of the shoes and clothing we wear. It has helped to convenience the lives we lead, from how we get around, to how we save, preserve and contain many of our foods and goods, to how we keep warm and cool when necessary.
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Canadians are relying more and more products that contain petroleum. It is a way of life for some Canadians who work within the industry, and it really does impact our lives in so many ways. As I have said before, we need to consider all sides of the petroleum debate so that wise and informed decisions can be made for the future of Canada and its citizens.
For more information about the Oil Sands industry visit oilsandstoday.ca
Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of CAPP.
Thanks for the information, I never stopped to realize how many things in our lives contain petroleum – definitely an eye opener!
Thanks, Judy! It was a real eye-opened for me, too, when I did the challenge for myself at home. Canadians rely on petroleum and crude oil for so many of the products we use in our everyday lives.
I grew up a few hours from Ft. McMurray and have visited the Oil Sands, so I knew about them… but I never really stopped to think about how much they impact my daily life. You’re right – petroleum is in almost everything we use these days! I think the key is stewardship and balance. We should be using our resources, but not overusing them, or using them at the expense of other resources (like the trees and environment). Thanks for helping get the discussion started!
Thanks for your comment, Bonnie Way! I think that stewardship and balance are of vital importance where petroleum is concerned. It is something that should be considered in this discussion.
Thanks for sharing this informative post! So much I did not know about petroleum and so many things we don’t think of that we use every day that contain it!
Hi Alyssa! It is a bit of a shocker to me, too. We rely on petroleum to help make or to use to contain so many of products we use on a daily basis. It is a commodity that is important to us in so many different ways.
I have never really stopped to think about the ways in which petroleum is included in our regular daily life. Thanks for sharing this information. Also I admit I don’t know much about the oil sands and I really should read more. I like the idea that this can create jobs.
Hi Paula! There are a lot of Canadians that are employed within this industry, and jobs could be created in the future as well in this field. Petrolem affects Canadians in this manner as well.
Wow! I really never thought of how many products in our day to day lives contain petroleum! Real eye opener indeed!
I’m don’t used any petroleum skin care based products but I had no idea it was in so many things…Ugh.
I did know that petroleum is used in a lot of every day products – scary when one thinks about it running out at some time.
Thanks for the information,I have never thought of it before,but wow it really is a big part of our daily life
I had no idea that petroleum was in so many things and it sort of makes me nauseous thinking that, that is in so many things that we use and even swallow