Empires of Oil
Duncan Clarke
Published 20th September 2007
£20.00 Hardback ISBN 978 1 84668 046 5
One of the world’s foremost oil strategists analyses the world’s shifting oil empires, and the challenges facing the oil industry in the 21st century…
Duncan Clarke is available for features and interviews.
Please contact Benjamin Usher on 0207 841 6306 or benjamin.usher@profilebooks.com
‘If you read just one book on oil this year, let it be by Duncan Clarke, whose Empires of Oil is a stimulating mix of futurology, philosophy, and real politik, with a dose of lateral thinking thrown in. Drawing on sources as diverse as Machiavelli and Gibbon, Niall Ferguson and Robert D Kaplan, as well as lessons learnt from three decades as a leading industry advisor, Clarke challenges current assumptions about the future of oil. The result is a blast of fresh intellectual air that forces a radical reappraisal of the role of the commodity that shapes our lives, for better or for worse.’
Michael Holman, former Africa Editor, Financial Times
We might think that the world’s oil empires are invincible and unchanging megaliths, dominated by American interests, but Duncan Clarke reveals the ways in which these empires now face huge challenges in a more complex and conflicted twenty-first century. Based on razor-sharp analysis of contemporary geopolitics, upstream industry paradigms, and a deep knowledge of global history, he shows:
• the shifts that have taken place in the commanding heights of world oil
• the complex, yet not inevitable links between oil and conflict worldwide
• why traditional oil domains of the West are struggling in the face of resource nationalism, state oil company competition, and the rise of state-managed oil empires in Russia, Venezuela, China, Iran, the Middle East, and Africa
• the character of many new threats faced by oil companies in uncertain geo-political landscapes, and from the anti-globalisation lobbies and NGOs
• where oil companies have been flawed, and their new global strategies
• how the world has changed because of the global scramble for oil resources and titanic battles, including culture clashes, over this critical commodity
Duncan Clarke is a leading thinker, writer and speaker on corporate oil strategy and geopolitical issues in the world oil industry. Chairman and CEO of Global Pacific & Partners, a private advisory firm based in London, The Hague and Johannesburg, he is an economist with 30 years advisory experience in oil, focused on strategy in the worldwide upstream industry. In February 2007 Profile published his book The Battle for Barrels.
Pre-publication praise for Empires of Oil
‘A timely contribution to debate on corporate oil as the world fast-forwards into an uncertain energy future. With characteristic iconoclasm, Clarke critically evaluates urgent challenges presented by geopolitical transformations, explaining why smart companies must change strategies, portfolio choice and tactics to survive. The old order based on large players exercising unbridled power around the globe is under siege from smaller, more nimble competitors while state oil companies worldwide are redefining the rules of the global oil game, with resource nationalists and ethnic militia redrawing the oil map to restrict entry and reserve access for traditional players.’ Barry Morgan, Africa Correspondent, Upstream, The International Oil & Gas Newspaper
Empires of Oil is a masterly rendition of our past, present and future in the global oil exploration and development game. State oil companies have seized many commanding heights and private companies must adjust to new terrains. Clarke's tour du monde tackles these issues with originality, new thinking, and an unrivalled command of the complex strategies involved.” Dr Fereidun Fesharaki, Chairman & CEO, Facts Global Energy Group
“The Rise and Fall of Empires is not only the stuff of history but also reflects the titanic struggles going on here and now within the complexities of world oil geopolitics. Few are more qualified than Duncan Clarke to give us this erudite account of such a critical unfolding drama. A world class economist with extensive exposure to many empires of oil, his interaction with all the players in the global oil game over 30 years provides a striking vision from one of the best non-linear thinkers of our age.” Conrad Gerber, President, Petro-Logistics Ltd., Geneve
Praise for The Battle for Barrels
‘The Battle for Barrels says we should take warnings of impending Armageddon with a pinch of salt.’ The Guardian
‘Such a welcome addition to what has largely been a one-sided debate outside of energy industry circles. Clarke, well known as a leading corporate strategist within the industry, is well equipped to provide a clearly reasoned and balanced response to the gloom and doom predicted by peak oilers…Clarke’s book may be the best overview of the lobby written by either friend or foe…an optimistic alternative to peak oil Cassandras.’ Petroleum Africa
‘This book effectively undermines the validity of the theory of Peak Oil and comprehensively demolishes the arguments of its proponents. It is a "must read" antidote to the gloom and doom conclusions of oil scarcity.’ Peter R. Odell, Professor Emeritus, International Energy Studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam (OPEC Award Winner 2006)
‘Duncan Clarke offers a smart and insightful survey of one of the most intriguing issues of our times - Is the world running out of oil? – explaining why doomsayers are wrong. He diagnoses the psychological mindset, the historical mistakes, and the current complexities concerning the evaluation of how much oil lies beneath, and shows a positive view of our energy future.’ Leonardo Maugeri, Senior Vice President, Eni SpA. (Author, The Age of Oil: The Mythology, History, and Future of the World’s Most Controversial Resource) .
Posted by Global Pacific & Partners on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 10:44
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