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Oil & Gas Library

Creating Your Own Learning Center

We are often asked for recommendations on oil and gas resources.  Every individual and organization in the business should have a readily accessible reference library to provide answers to common questions and allow employees to improve their knowledge of oil and gas operations.

The following list of references have been prepared with an emphasis on non-technical treatment of industry operations.  We have also provided clickable links to Amazon so you can learn more about the subjects covered.  We selected Amazon as our bookstore because you can purchase used versions at reduced prices which can save you some money as you build your library.

	The Basic Text - Modern Petroleum: A Basic Primer of the Industry, Bill D. Berger & Kenneth E. Anderson, Pennwell Publishing. [This textbook seems to have been around since Spindletop.  It is well-written and updated.  There is also a Spanish language version Petroleo Moderno: UN Manual Basico De LA Industria (Pennwell Nontechnical Series) (Spanish Edition)] Also check out: The Oil and Gas Industries - Tom Petrie, Introduction to the Global Oil & Gas Business - Samuel Van Vactor, and The Petroleum Industry: A Nontechnical Guide - Charles F. Conaway
	Keeping Up to Date - Oil & Gas Journal - [The industry's "bible." Don't wait for a copy to be circulated. Real players have their own subscription.]
	Upstream Fundamentals - Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, and Production, Norman J. Hyne, Pennwell Publishing. [One of the best books in Pennwell's non-technical series.  This is a must for anyone in exploration and production] Also check out: Well Logging in Nontechnical Language - David E. Johnson
	Drilling Operations - A Primer of Oilwell Drilling: A Basic Text of Oil and Gas Drilling - Basics of drilling and completing an oil and/or gas well.
	Oil and Gas Production - Oil & Gas Production in Nontechnical Language, Norman J. Hyne, Pennwell Publishing.  [Amazon has this book for $53.73 and would be a good addition to any upstream library]
	Deepwater Operations - Learn about the correct way to drill in deep waters with Leffler's book Deepwater Petroleum Exploration & Production: A Nontechnical Guide. [It's on my bookshelf.]
	Downstream Basics - Petroleum Refining in Nontechnical Language, William L. Leffler, Pennwell Publishing.  [Fine overview of crude oil refining and a well-written presentation]
	Oil and Gas Law - Oil and Gas Law in a Nutshell, John S. Lowe. [John's text is a classic and a must for anyone dealing with oil and gas leases]
	Oil and Gas Accounting - Fundamentals of Oil and Gas Accounting, Rebecca A. Gallun, Charlotte J. Wright, Linda M. Nichols, and John W. Stevenson. [Well-regarded text on petroleum accounting principles]
	Economic Analysis and Finance - Introduction to Oil Company Financial Analysis, David Johnston and Daniel Johnston. [A new version of Dan's classic Oil Company Financial Analysis in Nontechnical Language.  Dan's is a prolific contributor to the area of financial analysis and fiscal terms]
	Oil & Gas Pipelines Overview - Oil & Gas Pipelines in Nontechnical Language, Thomas O. Miesner and William L. Leffler. [Another in the nontechnical guide series]
	Natural Gas - Understanding Today's Natural Gas Business, Bob Shively [Most recent effort in this area.  Most books are from the mid to late 1990s.]
	LNG -Understanding Today's Global LNG Business, Bob Shively [A new guide to the important world of LNG.]
	Oil and Gas Deals and Investments - Money in the Ground-Insider's Guide to Oil and Gas Deals, John Orban [Easy to read guide on upstream investments. Very nice overview of the upstream value chain.]
	Dictionary and Glossary - D&D Standard Oil & Gas Abbreviator, 6th Edition, 6th Edition, The Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs. [A good basic reference]
	Oil Industry Terms - Lagenkamp's reference book, Handbook of Oil Industry Terms and Phrases, is a good addition to your library.
	Petrochemicals - Petrochemicals in Nontechnical Language, 3rd Edition, Donald L. Burdick and William L. Leffler. [Well written textbook and mastery of chemistry is not required]
	Management - Do the Right Thing: How Dedicated Employees Create Loyal Customers and Large Profits, James Parker, Wharton School Publishing [Take care of your employees and everything else falls in place]
	Information - 2010 International Petroleum Encyclopedia (See all Petroleum Books), Joseph Hilyard [A good general resource book with maps and historic data.  The 2009 International Petroleum Encyclopedia version is considerably less at $154.83.
	Employment - Opportunities in Petroleum, Gretchen D. Krueger, McGraw-Hill [This book provides a complete overview of the job possibilities, salary figures, and experience required to enter the petroleum industry]
	Oil and Gas Fiction - When Professor Russell Conrad received a call to fly to Washington, he didn't expect that he would end up in Saudi Arabia trying to rescue the President and prevent a nuclear war.  After Conrad is summoned to Washington he finds himself on Air Force One as part of an American delegation to a secret peace conference in Saudi Arabia. President Omar Sanjar's hopes of forming a lasting Middle East peace are shattered when the American delegation is kidnapped.  Their captors' ransom demands present a moral dilemma that threatens to plunge the Middle East into a nuclear war. [Okay - it's a shameless act of self-promotion, but even oil and gas people need a little diversion]