This educational resource chronicles the oil industry’s transformation over the last century and discusses the future and how the industry engages in its four primary sectors of activity: finding and producing crude oil, transportation, refining, and marketing. New professionals, industry executives, government officials, and academicians will find that this book is a concise introduction to the industry and an invaluable source of information.

"Technical and analytical, Powers' perspectives are nicely interlaced with the personal, adding a vibrant and real touch."
- Dr. William L. Fisher, Barrow Chair and professor, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas

"Anyone who wants to appreciate the problems to be faced by the world's future energy providers needs to read Lou Powers' book and learn the secrets of the giant oil and gas fields discovered in the past that Lou so generously shares."
- Gene Ames, former Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, geologist and oil & gas producer

With political turmoil in the Middle East contributing to price volatility and production problems, many experts have questioned if this critical region can continue to supply petroleum for the global economy. Former Saudi Aramco chief petroleum engineer Lou Powers offers insights into the major oilfields of Saudi Arabia, and whether these historic reserves can continue to deliver the petroleum that drives the global economy. Written from the perspective of Powers' more than 50 years in the global petroleum industry, this book gives readers a window into a world few understand, yet depend upon for their everyday needs.

This resource examines the processes, techniques, equipment, and facilities used to transport liquids such as refined products, crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids through cross-country pipelines. Special emphasis is included on control and leak detection systems as well as emerging technologies and systems to ensure safe and environmentally sound operation. Thorough but easy to read, this text is useful for anyone who wants to learn about pipelines, from petroleum industry newcomers and students to personnel in related arenas such as legal, accounting, financial, government, and others.

Drilling Technology in Nontechnical Language, 2nd Edition, is ideal for everyone interested in the drilling industry, including industry veterans, non-engineer industry professionals, and undergraduate petroleum engineering students. The 2nd Edition features a new chapter on getting work in the drilling industry (including types of employers, service companies, and drilling-related job definitions); new graphics to make concepts and equipment easier to understand; explanations of newer drilling techniques; and "well control" chapter carefully written to cover issues surrounding the BP Macondo blowout. The new second edition includes additional chapters that cover working in the drilling industry, working in remote locations, and advanced drilling techniques, and includes an additional section about managing costs.

This new book is an important educational tool for anyone in the petroleum industry—whether upstream, downstream, or pipeline—who would like to learn the fundamentals of the most commonly known unconventional oils: oil sands, heavy oil, and bitumen. Unlike conventional oil resources, “unconventional oil” resources have been known to exist only for the last few decades and are available in limited areas of the world. The most commonly known “unconventional oils”—oil sands, heavy oil, and bitumen—are found primarily in the western United States, Canada, and Venezuela. Only recently has serious consideration has been given to North American resources for meeting the increasing demands for transportation fuel. Dr. Banerjee discusses the importance of these unconventional oils and provides an introduction for those beginning their journey in the still unexplored unconventional hydrocarbon resources of the world.

This timely, nontechnical book describes and analyzes the global oil and gas industry, focusing on its strategic, financial, and business aspects and addressing a wide range of topics organized around the oil and gas industry value chain, starting with exploration and ending with products sold to consumers.It is a single source for anyone interested in how the business of the world’s largest industry actually works: business executives, students, government officials and regulators, professionals working in the industry, and the general public.