Standarad Oil II – John D. Rockefeller: The First and Richest Oil Tycoon
In this second part of the Standard Oil story, we profile John D. Rockefeller, the man who founded the world’s first large oil company, which was forced by the US…
In the News
Walking an Arctic Tightrope
Relying heavily on the petroleum industry for revenue, yet on the pure waters of the Arctic Ocean for subsistence, native Alaskans struggle to find a delicate balance. Before the historical…
An Education in Oil
How can the media best engage the public on fossil fuels? Documentary or drama? The BBC has been attempting both. The 1st of August 2015 marks the bicentenary of the publication…
The Active Volcanoes of Hawai‘i
Breathtaking views, surreal landscapes, and the chance to come face to face with an active volcano, the Island of Hawai‘i offers the geotourist encounters of a lifetime, and scientists a…
Rio: The “Marvellous City”
The endless beauty of its people and its setting put Rio de Janeiro as one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere. Rio Summer Olympics 2016 Rio de…
Levelling the Playing Field …
How much do fossil fuel companies benefit from the public purse? In May this year, the IMF announced their revised calculation of global fossil fuel subsidies. The figure is an…
Indonesia: New Regime Creates Expectations
What effect will the new modernizing president have on the oil and gas industry in Indonesia? Indonesian presidential elections held on July 9, 2014 saw Joko Widodo, leader of the Indonesian…
Making an Educated Guess
An online game shows that using input from a knowledgeable crowd can lead to better decisions. In a recent experiment, university students and oil industry staff, including non-explorationists, tried to predict whether exploration…
China Seeks More Gas
With its vast shale gas resources proving harder to access than anticipated, China is looking to Russian gas to satisfy its rising demand. China is believed to hold the world’s largest…
Capital Discipline – A Shake Up For The Industry
Despite record levels of capital investment since 2005, oil production outside of North America has virtually flat-lined and investors are losing confidence. How is the industry reacting? To say there…
Field-based Training: Luxury or Necessity?
What is the role of field geology today, what will it be in the future and what specifically is the importance of field-based training to petroleum geosciences? Is it a…
Libya’s missing barrels
The Brent oil price continues to slide as Libyan oil is expected to gradually return to the market after two key export terminals, which had been blocked for almost a year by…