History, Exploration & Exploitation of Oil and Gas (Historical Geography and Geosciences)

This edited volume discusses scientific and technological aspects of the history of the oil and gas industry in national and international contexts. The search for oil for industrial uses began in the nineteenth century, the first drills made in Azerbaijan and the United States. This intense search for a substance to become one of the most important energy sources was, many times, based on skill as well as luck, resulting in knowledge and the development of prospecting and exploration technologies. The demand for oil improved expertise in geological science, in areas such as micropaleontology, stratigraphy or sedimentology and informed different disciplines such as geophysics. These contributions made possible not only the discovery of new oil fields but also new applications and methods of exploration. Beyond the scientific and technological aspects, an industry that grew to such considerable size also impacted the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and diplomatic issues in history. The book approaches these changes in different scales, countries, areas, and perspectives. This edited book appeals to researchers, student, practitioners in various fields from geology and geophysics to history. It is also an important resource for professionals in the oil and gas industry. Contents 6 Introduction—Oil Geology in History 7 References 9 1 From Local to Global Petroleum Geology: Hans Höfer von Heimhalt’s Contributions Between Empires, Economies and Epistemologies 10 Abstract 10 1.1 Introduction 10 1.2 From Local to Global: A Brief Biography and the Thought Collective of the Imperial Geological Survey 11 1.3 The World Exhibition in Philadelphia: Höfer’s Coming into Touch with Petroleum 14 1.4 Different Thought Collectives in Different Empires 15 1.5 Summary 18 References 19 Archives 19 Books and Articles 19 2 History of Oil Exploration in the State of São Paulo Before the Foundation of Petrobras (1872–1953) 21 Abstract 21 2.1 Introduction 21 2.2 First Initiatives for Oil Research in the State of São Paulo 23 2.3 Action of the Federal Government in the Oil Exploration in the State of São Paulo 27 2.4 Development of the Petroleum Industry in the State of São Paulo from 1930 Onwards 29 2.5 Final Remarks 31 Sources 31 Manuscript Sources 31 Printed Sources 31 References 32 3 Petroleum: New Energy Perspectives for Brazil in 1922 33 Abstract 33 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 The Early 1920 Years 34 3.3 The Congress of Coal and Other National Fuels: Technical and Economic Sessions 35 3.4 The Congress of Coal and Other National Fuels: Scientific Sessions on Oil 37 3.5 Final Considerations 42 Acknowledgements 42 References 42 4 Petroleum and Science: The National Petroleum Council and the Development of Oil Geology in Brazil 45 Abstract 45 4.1 Introduction 45 4.2 Brazilian Oil Geology as a Creole Science 46 4.3 Geology in Brazil: The Construction of a National Scientific Field 47 4.4 Oil and Geology in Brazil: Background and Trajectory of the Field 48 4.5 National Petroleum Council: Politics and Science in the Development of Brazilian Oil Geology 51 4.6 International Collaboration 52 4.7 Building a National Workforce 54 4.8 Education and Training 56 References 57 5 Teapot Dome: The Greatest Political Scandal in the History of the US Oil Industry 58 Abstract 58 5.1 Introduction 58 5.2 Fuel for the Fleet 59 5.3 The Harding Administration 60 5.4 Tempest at Teapot 62 5.5 Field Development 63 5.6 The Last Chapter 64 Acknowledgements 64 References 64 6 Technique and Exploration: The Beginning of Micropaleontology in the Brazilian Oil Industry 65 Abstract 65 6.1 Introduction 66 6.2 The Structuring of the Department of Exploration at Petrobras 66 6.3 The Development of the Department of Sedimentary Basin of Paraná/Southern Exploration Department/Petrobras 67 6.4 The Professionals, the Paleontology Laboratories and the Petrobras 70 6.5 Conclusion 73 Acknowledgements 74 Printed Sources 74 7 From Colleague to Enemy? German Petroleum Geologists and the Cold War 76 Abstract 76 7.1 Introduction 76 7.2 Attempts at Cooperation 77 7.3 Cold War 79 7.4 Propaganda Offensive 84 7.5 Pompeckj Rise 85 7.6 Terra Incognita 86 7.7 Cold War in Hungary 88 7.8 Conclusion 90 Acknowledgements 90 References 91 Archive 91 Printed Sources 91 8 The Incredible Transforming History of a Former Oil Refiner into a Major Deepwater Offshore Operator: Blending Audacity, Technology, Policy, and Luck from the 1970s Oil Crisis up to the 2000s Pre-salt Discoveries 92 Abstract 92 8.1 Introduction 92 8.2 The Historical Context of Oil in Brazil 93 8.3 The Development of the Offshore Oil Industry in Brazil 96 8.4 Refining and Supply Infrastructure in Brazil Urging New Approaches 100 8.5 Conclusion 103 Acknowledgements 104 References 104 9 Research Partnership Between Petrobras and Brazilian Universities in the Transition to the Twenty-First Century 106 Abstract 106 9.1 Introduction 106 9.2 Focus on Human Resources Training: From 1950s to the Late 1980s 107 9.3 Reorientation to Research Collaboration: Late 1990s to 2014 110 9.4 Concluding Remarks 112 References 113 Front Matter ....Pages i-ix From Local to Global Petroleum Geology: Hans Höfer von Heimhalt’s Contributions Between Empires, Economies and Epistemologies (Marianne Klemun)....Pages 1-11 History of Oil Exploration in the State of São Paulo Before the Foundation of Petrobras (1872–1953) (Júlia C. T. Oliveira, Silvia F. de M. Figueirôa)....Pages 13-24 Petroleum: New Energy Perspectives for Brazil in 1922 (Maria Margaret Lopes)....Pages 25-36 Petroleum and Science: The National Petroleum Council and the Development of Oil Geology in Brazil (Natascha de Vasconcellos Otoya)....Pages 37-49 Teapot Dome: The Greatest Political Scandal in the History of the US Oil Industry (Matthew R. Silverman)....Pages 51-57 Technique and Exploration: The Beginning of Micropaleontology in the Brazilian Oil Industry (Drielli Peyerl, Elvio Pinto Bosetti)....Pages 59-69 From Colleague to Enemy? German Petroleum Geologists and the Cold War (Martina Kölbl-Ebert)....Pages 71-86 The Incredible Transforming History of a Former Oil Refiner into a Major Deepwater Offshore Operator: Blending Audacity, Technology, Policy, and Luck from the 1970s Oil Crisis up to the 2000s Pre-salt Discoveries (Edmilson Moutinho dos Santos, Drielli Peyerl)....Pages 87-100 Research Partnership Between Petrobras and Brazilian Universities in the Transition to the Twenty-First Century (Giovanna G. Gielfi)....Pages 101-109 This edited volume discusses scientific and technological aspects of the history of the oil and gas industry in national and international contexts. The search for oil for industrial uses began in the nineteenth century, the first drills made in Azerbaijan and the United States. This intense search for a substance to become one of the most important energy sources was, many times, based on skill as well as luck, resulting in knowledge and the development of prospecting and exploration technologies. The demand for oil improved expertise in geological science, in areas such as micropaleontology, stratigraphy or sedimentology and informed different disciplines such as geophysics. These contributions made possible not only the discovery of new oil fields but also new applications and methods of exploration. Beyond the scientific and technological aspects, an industry that grew to such size impacted the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and diplomatic issues of history. The book approaches such changes in different scales, countries, areas, and perspectives. This edited book appeals to researchers, student, practitioners in various fields from geology and geophysics to history. It is further an important resource for professionals in the oil and gas industry