Review of \u3ci\u3eAlberta\u27s Petroleum Industry and the Conservation Board\u3c/i\u3e By David H. Breen

Anyone wanting to learn the fundamentals of how the oil and natural gas industry actually operated should read this book. Nevertheless, in some places the amount of detail exceeds the analysis provided to justify its inclusion. And in arguing that the PNGCB members maintained an effective balance among the demands of large integrated and small independent companies for attractive profit margins, government desire for economic growth, and scientific conservation measures designed to protect the public interest, Breen minimizes evidence that suggests a less laudatory evaluation. Moreover, the role of the board in the interplay among the Alberta, Canadian, and American governments begs for more emphasis in the conclusion. The board apparently stemmed the influence of American parent companies operating through their Alberta subsidiaries. Nevertheless, attempts by the Canadian and American governments to manipulate the Alberta industry toward ends incompatible with board policy proved more difficult to check