Groundbreakers: The Story of Oilfield Technology and the People Who Made it Happen

Groundbreakers describes an amazing technical journey in man's effort to find and produce oil and gas, with more than 450 pages and 130 illustrations. This is the first ever, comprehensive account of how upstream technology developed. The story is packed with human drama, extraordinary innovation and oversized personalities who dared to dream. By any standards, the story is unmatched for the sheer physical and intellectual bravado of its key players. The book relies on interviews with more than 125 technical leaders in the upstream and an exhaustive review of literature and patents since the mid-19th century. In addition, the book features timelines for exploration, drilling, reservoir engineering and production engineering innovations. There are copious endnotes and references, including an index of the key players.