Oil & Gas: Geology, Exploration & Production, and Reserves
A few "nuts & bolts" sources that address the oil industry or oil reserves. More coming soon.
Morgan Downey, Oil 101 (2009): Neutral presentation of oil/peak oil, and how the oil industry and oil markets work.
Crude: 2007 documentary from Australia w/glossy production values and excellent content, including ancient (e.g., Jurassic) origins of oil, peak oil, CO2 reservoirs, ancient CO2 levels, oceanic anoxic events, supergreenhouse events, negative feedbacks, and climate change.
21 Darts: An insider's warning about Jan 2010 changes in how the SEC allows companies to claim oil "reserves," plus lots of analysis of global oil prospects and financial legerdemain. Downloads a lengthy but very accessible PDF.
Daniel Yergin, The Prize (1993): Heavyweight (literally) history of the oil industry.
A series of posts about petroleum recovery (The Oil Drum, Dave Summers aka Heading Out)
Drilling Through Rock
Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud
Casing a Well
The Drilling Rig
Completing & Perforating the Well
Permeability
Water Floods (Improving Oil Flow)
Reserves & Production: An Example
Directional Drilling
Turning a Well, Downhole Motors, Drill Bits
Drilling Rigs and Drilling Ships
Produced Water
Separating Components of a Crude Oil
Refining / Cracking Oil
Mining Oil Sands
Oil megaprojects around the globe, compiled by independents within the industry.