How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change

From solar space scientist to oilfield engineer

I earned a Ph.D. in space physics from Adelaide University, Australia, where I studied cosmic rays from the sun. After cosmic rays are released by a solar flare, they travel indirectly to the earth in a kind of diffusive motion. I modeled the transport of these cosmic rays with a computer program. I think the sun connection was my first awareness of climate change and the incessant warming of earth’s surface over the past 50 years.

As a petroleum engineer, I worked in the oil and gas industry for 28 years. I traveled the world consulting and giving talks on shale gas-oil, fracking, earthquakes, and now climate change. 

The Pivot book is based on a selection from almost 150 articles I’ve published with Forbes.com over the last three years. These articles were directed to fossil energies, particularly oil and gas, and the transition to renewable energies. The book contains aspects of the topic that will endure as distinct from temporary news that will likely not last.

As one colleague said, this book falls squarely in the wheelhouse of oil and gas companies who are wrestling with what to do in the energy transition. Do they diversify into renewables production, such as wind and solar and cut back on new oil and gas wells, or continue business as usual?

A friend who owns a small number of oil wells is anxious to get my book. He is worried about holding on to his company for too long – given renewable energies are on the rise and may displace his assets.

Many oil companies, perhaps most of them, are seriously interested in the energy transition and what it means for their future. Some of them are just plain scared of renewables replacing their oil and gas wells, and they will want to see if my book has answers for them. The book does discuss the future of oil and gas in a time of increasing uncertainty around the rise of renewables.

The book is ideal for an engineering course at a college or university that wants to integrate the latest information on climate change into engineering specialties.

Summary of Contents

This book takes an honest look at the fast-charging energy transition from the unique perspective of a solar space scientist turned oilfield engineer.

How far are global leaders pivoting toward climate change: BP; Occidental; ExxonMobil?

Did ExxonMobil really try to deceive people about climate change?

Is the urgency about climate change as dire as climate aficionados are saying?

These are just some of the questions that drive the discussion. This book is intended for experts and lay readers alike, in order to educate all parties on the current state of fossil fuels, especially oil and gas, and their efforts to clean up greenhouse emissions on the road to energy transition.

The book, which includes both US-centered and global perspectives, takes a look at historical data and projections for the future, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the reality of climate change in the oil and gas world.

Reviews

In his book “How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change,” Dr Ian Palmer provides a balanced, unbiased, and heavily data-based summary of what not only oil and gas companies but also governments and other organizations are doing to spur the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy to combat climate change. The book provides a comprehensive set of data points, views and perspectives which are not readily available in mainstream media. Dr Palmer has done extensive research and puts it all together for easy consumption by the reader.

Dr Palmer brings in different studies and viewpoints, ranging from pessimistic to optimistic, on which approaches for achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 have good potential to work and which are merely long shots. This is useful and valuable information that helps the reader make informed choices regarding his or her individual approach to climate change. It is like a guidebook on what are good things to do and what might be just a waste of time and resources.

The book is both an enjoyable and informative read and is one I recommend to anyone interested in keeping up with what is happening around the world to combat climate change. ~ Bob Moore, Reservoir Advisor, IKAV Energy.

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It is important to emphasize that we need all forms of energy and to pick the most cost-effective solutions that will have the biggest impact (reducing coal use and replacing it with natural gas etc.). The book by Dr Palmer is a good review of what oil and gas companies (more accurately, energy companies) are doing to provide energy as efficiently as they can by transitioning to lower carbon solutions. This is an essential service to society. ~ Mukul Sharma, Professor, Moncrief Centennial Chair, University of Texas.

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While there are many people out there who feel the energy transition should be a rather simple thing, they fail to understand the ever-growing need for energy across the entire globe and just how difficult it will be to address both this need and the climate concerns into the future.  I think this book highlights both the complexity and how large corporations are trying to understand and prepare for a very dynamic and uncertain future in the energy sector. 

There is actually nothing simple about climate change or the energy transition as we go into a new future here.  We have to factor in our short-term needs and considerations and then predict the intermediate and long-term needs and considerations.  This book shows how many corporations are trying to prepare for a very dynamic and uncertain future to secure their own success and address much broader issues around the future of humanity. ~ Ron Dusterhoft, Technology Fellow, Halliburton, an Oil Service Company.

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Dr. Ian Palmer effectively guides readers through the critical intersections of energy and climate security using a fact-based approach. He highlights a striking statistic: oil and gas companies and their products account for approximately 50% of global carbon emissions.

Despite this, their low cost and profitability continue to drive widespread reliance. However, Dr. Palmer points out that major oil and gas companies are actively diversifying their energy portfolios to enhance climate security, with a significant focus on cleaner and more efficient natural gas and LNG.  Central to his thesis is the observed rise in global temperatures and its often-misunderstood connection to climate change.

Through a pragmatic exploration, Dr. Palmer unpacks this relationship with a range of well-supported facts, offering readers a clear and balanced perspective.  For those interested in an information-driven analysis of the energy industry’s current stance and its role in the transition to cleaner energy, this book provides a timely and insightful assessment. It also offers valuable context on the potential direction U.S. energy policy may take in the coming years. ~ George J Koperna Jr. Chief Executive Officer Advanced Resources International, Inc.

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“A very well written book, with good spread of chapters, well sourced, a much needed documentation which describes a key topic of our times in down to earth (accesible to all regardless their technical background) manner.” ~ Ion Ispas, Ph.D., Associate Professor, George P. Livermore Chair, Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University

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“This book is a great insight on the importance of our planet’s energy future and the direction of mankind!” ~ Cliff Taylor, an oilman from Oklahoma.

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“This book was an enjoyable read. It is written using clear and understandable prose with topics well researched and explained. The topics presented show how the largest Western-world oil and gas companies are dealing with the realities of fossil fuel-induced global warming and their resulting climate changes while still maintaining profitability.” ~ John Cameron

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I read Ian Palmer’s most recent book, “How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change.”  I am an older man living in a red, oil and gas-producing state and I found Dr. Palmer’s description of energy transition most interesting.  While I am not a member of the oil and gas industry, I am acutely aware of the reported impact of oil and gas production, and gas consumption, on the climate.  Dr. Palmer helped me become aware of the difference between global warming and climate change. ~ Randy Bunn, Attorney

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“After reading Ian’s book, “How oil and gas companies are pivoting toward climate change”, I would offer the following comments. There is a lot of information, well-sourced, and the key takeaways serve as solid reinforcement for the reader. It appears that oil and gas companies are responsible for GHG emissions from autos, trucks, etc., but this doesn’t seem fair since consumers have a choice with EV`s and hybrids. I was very impressed by the forward thinking of the folks down under. Tesla seems to have their hands in many areas, from EV`s, car batteries, and super batteries, along with solar panels. It seems to me the book makes it look like hydrogen is a non-starter. Finally, the book indicates a significant amount of investment along with government incentives will spur further innovation. ” ~ Bill Strobel, President, Zeeospheres Ceramics LLC.

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Contents From the book

Chapter 1…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

Put Your Money on the Permian: The Phar Lap of Oil and Gas Basins

Chapter 2…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

Vicki Hollub and Joe Biden: Unlikely Ties Between Energy Security

and Energy Transition

Chapter 3…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13

The Profit Dilemma for Fossil Fuel Companies:

Energy Security versus Climate Security

Chapter 4…………………………………………………………………………………………… 20

The Golden Age for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Chapter 5…………………………………………………………………………………………… 30

A Fresh Reading of Exxon’s Predictions of Global Warming

and Climate Change from Forty Years Ago

Chapter 6…………………………………………………………………………………………… 38

A Transformative Leap to Control US Emissions:

Oil Companies and Government Shaking Hands

Chapter 7…………………………………………………………………………………………… 48

ExxonMobil Buys Pioneer and Fortifies Its Traditional Energy Influence

Chapter 8…………………………………………………………………………………………… 52

ExxonMobil Plus Pioneer Will Be the Influence-Shaper

for Oil and Climate

Chapter 9…………………………………………………………………………………………… 61

Occidental Is Sticking to Direct Air Capture of Emissions,

and so is Warren Buffet

Chapter 10………………………………………………………………………………………… 65

BP Is Shaping Climate Security While Adjusting Profit Margins

Chapter 11…………………………………………………………………………………………. 74

Oil and Gas Companies Are Jumping on Hydrogen, but Is It Overrated?

Chapter 12………………………………………………………………………………………… 86

Three Reasons Why Oil and Gas Should Keep an Eye

on the Battery Transition

Chapter 13………………………………………………………………………………………… 96

Battery Deployment and Success in the Transition Down Under

Chapter 14………………………………………………………………………………………. 106

California Lawsuit against Big Oil: What the Jury Needs to Know

Chapter 15………………………………………………………………………………………. 114

California Lawsuit: Killer Weather Extremes Are Not Getting Worse

Chapter 16………………………………………………………………………………………. 126

Who is Responsible for Billion-Dollar Extreme Weather Events in the US?

Chapter 17………………………………………………………………………………………. 135

What the President’s Permit Pause Means for the Golden Age

of Liquefied Natural Gas

Chapter 18………………………………………………………………………………………. 146

COP28 Results after Two Weeks of Dancing around Oil and Gas

Chapter 19………………………………………………………………………………………. 150

Can the World Reach Net-Zero by 2050 without

Radical New Technologies?

Chapter 20………………………………………………………………………………………. 168

What Has Been Learned about the Oil and Gas Industry

as it Pivots toward Climate Change?

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About Me

About Cambridge Scholars Publishing

As of December 2021, Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) has published over 9,000 books since its founding in 2001. The information I have is that CSP is one of the world’s largest publishers of English-language scholarly books, publishing more than 700 titles per year.

Their books cover a range of nonfiction topics, including science, technology, medicine, business, transport, and architecture. CSP’s books are sold to university libraries and research departments in over 120 countries.

Please forward this write-up to someone you think might be interested in the book How Oil and Gas Companies are Pivoting Toward Climate Change.

The book costs £67 (English pounds) which converts to about $86 USD, and is comparable to other professional educating books of this caliber. It has not been published in paperback or digital versions, which may come later.