Fields of Fire: An Illustrated History of Canadian Petroleum

This is the behind-the-scenes story of oil and gas. Not long ago, when Natives already knew the value of bitumen for tarring canoes, new settlers considered the gummy, smell substance merely a puzzling nuisance. But once the inherent worth of oil and gas was recognized, the hunt was on, and it continues. It takes fire and ambition to pursue a dream. The history of oil is one of heart, hopes, hardships and triumphs. Fields of Fire takes us along on this quest, in step with the oil rig hands, camp cooks, helicopter pilots, Inuit polar-bear guards and deep-sea divers who inhabit its world. The authors trace the path of the industry's history, from early discoveries of single wells to modern high-tech megaprojects. Oil affects our economy, from boom to bust. Consortiums, foreign expansion, restructuring, environmental and social issues, are all part of the picture. Here is how the oil sands are dug, how the crude is transported, how the black gold of the North is tapped. Here are the future trends of Canadian oil and gas, and the hopes of the industry.