When planning to invest in oil and natural gas companies, one must be sure to research thoroughly before. There are many government agencies, neutral companies who evaluate the transparency of a company, and books for researching the industry trends, as well as technical aspects of investing. These sources can tell you the ‘if, when, and how’ for investing in oil and gas stocks.
Energy Information Administration
One site to show the major growth projections and trends of oil and natural gas is U.S. Energy Information Administration. The EIA is a great source for data and analysis on domestic and international energy consumption, supply, and prices. Here you can also find historical statistics and forecasts on this information. For a listing of crude oil supply and deposition, visit Energy Information Administration for statistics ranging from as far back as 1920 to May of 2010 (as of July 11, 2010).
PetroStrategies, Inc
Another site to visit for in-depth looks into the Oil and gas market is PetroStrategies, Inc. PetroStrategies started in 1832 and is known for providing strategic analysis and planning to the oil and gas industry. To find an extensive library of .pdf or media streaming sources on the industry from various authors, visit the CME Group. The CME group serves the risk management needs of consumers and provides information on benchmark futures available on any exchange.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
When considering companies and investments into the oil and gas industry, one must also examine The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC is an government organization of twelve oil-exporting developing nations, that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its member countries. OPEC members control a sort of monopoly on petroleum, whose members possess approximately two-thirds of the global petroleum supply.
Petroleum Extension Service
Another reputable resource on Oil and gas investments is the Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX). PETEX is known for developing, producing, and providing technical and nontechnical training courses, publications, and digital training materials on the oil and gas industry. If you’re intersted in finding information on the Gulf Region, visit the Arabian Peninsula & Gulf Studies Program. For more information on the oil and gas industry, there is a list of the largest 50 U.S.-based oil and gas companies.
Books
Books are always a viable source of information for any topic, including the subject of oil and gas industries. Some books are one can find on PennWellbooks.com. The focus of PennWell is to“…cover all aspects of the petroleum industry. Written by selected industry experts, PennWell books will help you broaden your expertise in your current field, understand other related disciplines, provide quick-glance references as a topic arrives in your daily routine, and make excellent classroom, seminar, and in-house training texts.” The other great source for books is the Library of Congress, with its drive to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge.