1. Module 5

1.24. Page 5

Module 5 Lesson 5

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

Reflect on the Big Picture

 

Crude oil refining is a billion-dollar industry. As you have learned in this lesson, Alberta is a major producer of crude oil and synthetic crude oil. However, only a small percentage of this oil is refined in Alberta. It is cheaper to transport crude through pipelines to other major centres for refining than it is to refine the oil in Alberta. The refined oil can then be shipped shorter distances to users.

 

View the pipeline map of North America. Can you identify the markets for Alberta oil using the map?

 

Discuss


What are the responsibilities and consequences of being a crude oil producer and exporter? Is it appropriate to export oil? These are hot topics among Albertans and others. Many people believe that the synthetic crude oil sold by Alberta is “dirty oil” because of the environmental damage caused by extracting and refining bitumen.

 

Write a couple of paragraphs to share your opinion on whether Alberta should extract and refine crude oil. Post your response in the discussion area for your class and read the opinions of at least two other students.

 

Save your work in your course folder.

 

Module 5: Lesson 5 Assignment


Retrieve your copy of the Module 5: Lesson 5 Assignment that you saved to your computer earlier in this lesson. Complete the Assignment. Save your completed Assignment in your course folder, and submit a copy to your teacher.