Articles by Robert Tuttle

Wildfires Encircle Canada’s Oil-Sands City Amid Hot Weather

A ring of wildfires has erupted around Canada’s unofficial oil-sands capital of Fort McMurray, adding new threats to crude production from the world’s third-largest petroleum reserves. Eight out-of-control blazes have been discovered just south and southwest of the city since …

Deadly US Oil Blast Exposes Risks of Pushing Profits Over Safety

The explosion that rocked Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Galveston Bay oil refinery one year ago trapped Rigoberto Guillen 75 feet in the air. Stranded on a metal platform, he and a colleague crouched low as black smoke engulfed them. “I couldn’t …

Firefighters Gain Control of One Blaze Threatening Oil Sands in Alberta

Firefighters gained control of one wildfire near the main oil-sands region of Alberta on Wednesday, but continued to battle a much larger blaze to the south that’s threatening the area’s biggest city. The fire just north of Fort McMurray, located …

Oil-Sands Capital of Canada Now Grappling With Second Wildfire

The unofficial capital of Canada’s oil-sands industry is now facing a second wildfire that’s north of the city and closer to major energy operations. The new blaze near Fort McMurray, Alberta, is about 3 hectares (7 acres) in size, and …

Update: Wildfire Threat to Oil-Sands Capital Expected to Ease as Winds Shift

The threat of a wildfire bearing down on the unofficial capital of Canada’s oil-sands industry is expected to lessen as temperatures cool and winds shift, though the prospect of rains dousing the flames entirely remains remote. The blaze near Fort …

Wildfires in Canada’s Oil Sands Region Prompts Evacuation Orders

Wildfires erupted across Canada’s main oil producing province of Alberta and an evacuation order was issued as the region braces for a repeat of last year’s unprecedented season. Members of the indigenous first nation community of Cold Lake Number 149, …

‘Zombie Fires’ Smoldering Near Oil and Gas Wells Threaten Canada’s Drillers

Leftover blazes from last year’s record wildfire season in Canada are threatening to knock out almost 3% of the country’s natural gas production. A total of 50 so-called zombie fires still smoldering beneath layers of snow are located near oil …

Fires From 2023, Smoldering Under Snow, Reveal Canada’s Dangerous New Reality

As skiers glide down the slopes of British Columbia’s Whistler Mountain and ice fishers drop their lines into frozen lakes in Alberta, dozens of the fires whose smoke darkened North America’s skies last year are still burning โ€” with some …

Update: Wildfires Rage Across Canada’s Gas Heartland, Cutting Production

Wildfires raging across western Canada forced the evacuation of 30,000 residents and cut at least 234,000 barrels a day of oil and gas production as companies shut down wells and pipelines. A total of 100 blazes were burning Monday afternoon, …

Toxic Spills at Alberta’s Oil Sands Spur Canada to Boost Regulatory Oversight

Canada’s federal government is stepping up environmental oversight in Alberta’s oil sands after Imperial Oil Ltd. and the provincial regulator were slow to report toxic spills. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has proposed a joint federal-provincial-Indigenous working group with the involvement …