Description

---

We know that the people of Mesopotamia were using crude oil as a tar for building ships and houses as early as 3000 BC, so it is not by any means a new industry-but it is a volatile one. Oil and gas are important to every aspect of our economy yet this industry is distinguished by its combination of increasing demands and decreasing discovery volumes-and it is an industry shrouded in an environment of extremely volatile pricing. This book is a vital introduction to the oil and gas industry that focuses on history, operations, major companies, outside market forces, regulation, and the current challenges the industry faces. Such factors as finite natural resources, the environment, economics, geopolitics, and technology are also analyzed in detail. The focus on oil and gas is likely to continue to grow until efficient, environmentally safe alternate fuels become available. And because it's woven with complex relationships that are ever changing, this book is the best tool to have for a better understanding of this industry.

About the Author

---

Linda Herkenhoff, PhD received her doctorate from the University of Western Australia, and is a full professor in the Graduate Business Department at Saint Mary's College California. Linda has 16+ years' experience with Chevron where she first started her career as an exploration geophysicist. She recently taught a course on the oil/gas industry to a global audience of students from Curtin University in Western Australia, and continues to consult in the oil and gas sector. She has also recently authored a case study on one of the major oil giants.