Petroleum History

The petroleum indusry has a fascinating history. Oil and gas drive the world economy,
which relates to politics and power. The availability of fuel, or lack thereof, played a
major role in both World Wars. The political story is a backdrop to the enormous
technological advances inspired by the industry — technologies that have resulted in
advances far beyond the oil and gas industry itself.

One way to explore the history of the industry is through one of the many petroleum
museums. Elsewhere on this website, Frontiers in Technology explores the technical
advances throughout the petroleum industry's history.

For those with more interest in the subject, the books listed below are good resources.
Some of these books may no longer be in print, but may be found at libraries .
Another resource for those interested in technology changes is back issues of industry
publications, such as the Oil & Gas Journal, which recently celebrated its 100th year of
publication. Back issues of a variety of industry publications can usually be found in
major libraries.

The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

This book by Daniel Yergin won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize. It explores the spread of the
industry across the globe, the breakup of the Standard Oil Trust, the role of oil in the
World Wars, price swings, and the role of regulation. The book was also made into a
video series for Public Broadcasting Corp.

The Color of Oil

From the wildcatters of the 1930's to the corporate giants of today, this book describes the
oil industry in a unique and introspective way. The "primary colors" of oil are money,
technology, and people. Written by Michael Economides, the book was published in 2000
by Round Oak Publishing.

Where It All Began: The Story of People and Places Where the Oil & Gas Industry
Began – West Virginia and Southeastern Ohio

This book by David McKain and Bernard L. Allen was published in cooperation with The
Oil & Gas Museum, Parkersburg, West Virginia. In addition to covering the early history
of the industry in the U.S., it explores the role of oil in the politics related to the Civil
War.

History of Petroleum Engineering

Published in 1961 by the American Petroleum Institute, this book covers the evolution of
the industry and technologies in many areas of industry operations. It also discusses
conservation and unitization and their role in effective management of petroleum
resources.

The Greatest Gamblers: The Epic of American Oil Exploration

The University of Oklahoma Press updated and republished this 1959 book by Ruth
Sheldon Knowles in 1978. This book focuses on the "wildcatters," the pioneers who
discovered most of the major producing fields in the U.S., and how they built the U.S. oil
industry.

Impact of Technology on the U.S. Petroleum Industry, 1946-1965

This report from the National Petroleum Council examines technological advances in the
post-War period and how they changed the domestic petroleum industry. The book has
two sections — one focused on exploration and production technology and one focused
on refining technologies.

Energy Economics

Published in 1977 by Gulf Publishing Company, this book by Helmut A. Merklein and W.
Carey Hardy was written in the years immediately following the oil market disruptions
caused by the first OPEC embargo. The book attempts to explain the role of oil in the
international economy and how that was affected by the rise of OPEC and "petrodollars."

Oil on Their Shoes: Petroleum Geology to 1918

Written by Ellen Sue Blakey and published by the American Association of Petroleum
Geologists (AAPG), this book incorporates early exploration stories from around the
globe, explaining how oil was found before the advent of modern technology.

To the Waters and the Wild: Petroleum Geology 1918 to 1941

The next book in the series by Ellen Sue Blakey and published by AAPG, this book is a
collection of vignettes from diaries, letters, and reminicences from many of the industry
legends before World War II.