Four of my good friends worked and three are currently working in the prairies in the oil business, mostly as engineers or scientists. I am from the East so I have admittedly no direct expertise nor experience to confirm, but they tell me there are so many ups and down and it's a very hard lifestyle. Unanimously they tell me that the challenges are really rewarding because it is more than just extraction; they are researching creative engineering solutions for efficient extraction, processing and delivery of bitumen/ petrol, as well new cleaning techniques. So mechanical, civil and biochemical engineering at its best, and lot of patents too. But it is tough work - the technological advancements are bearing fruits. A little like what happened with aerospace engineering when you Americans decided to put a man on the moon. Lots of great inventions out of this, and leaps of advances that benefits humankind. Well deserved pride out of such accomplishments indeed.
They make a profit as well, which is good. They say it is one of the largest reserves of bitumen and oil. It is right next door to our Americans friends too, but we are apparently a " security risk" (which I find insulting but what do I know - I was not a risk when I took in a family from NY after 9/11 for a week when their plane landed at our local airport). Not sure how our stupid politicians will eventually arrive to a nafta deal, but in the mean time, China is investing, purchasing firms and getting access to the oil and patents. I don't like it but what choices do they have? They provide the investments and we Canucks need the royalties and taxes revenues.
The left and greenies are blocking new exploration - as usual. They are blocking pipelines development, as well. The bottom line is we need oil to make so many products and a total ban is just not possible. Sure, we need to be responsible and that is where such inventions can help. Anyhow, suffice to say my friends do not fell supported by a large segment of the population, which is discouraging as they try so hard and their work benefits all. Some of the patents and discoveries can be beneficial to medicine, geology, and biology.
We will eventually get there...
Perhaps someone with direct knowledge can reassure me, and correct me.