Nikolai Baibakov (1911–2008)

ON A HOT DAY in July 1942 Joseph Stalin summoned before him a young mining engineer named Nikolai Baibakov. The supreme leader of the Soviet Union pointed out an obvious fact to his visitor. German armies were advancing into the Caucasus towards the strategic oil fields near Baku. Then came the dramatic gesture.

Stalin pointed two fingers at Baibakov’s head and said, “If you fail to stop the Germans getting our oil, you will be shot.” Then Stalin added “And when we have thrown the invader out, if we cannot restart oil production, we will shoot you again.”

ODAC Guest Commentary – Brazil Carioca find

The discoveries during 2007 of Carioca in BM-S-9 and Sugar Loaf in BM-S-8 within the Santos Basin, as well as other discoveries in the region, are very significant in that they confirm the potential of the sub-salt play originally identified in Tupi (BM-S-11) in 2006. Tupi pointed to the potential of the area for further oil and gas accumulations buried beneath a layer of salt and these wells confirm that potential.

The peak oil crisis: The silly season Is upon us

As long as most of us cling to the hope that high gas prices will go away or that a painless silver bullet that will solve our energy problem is just around the corner, few candidates for public office are ready to propose what are thought to be “painful solutions” to our problems. They still shoot messengers.