Petroleum Economics
Unit Outlines

Petroleum Economics

AI Generated Intermediate 40 hours 7 topics

Learning Objectives

6 objectives
  • Understand the fundamental concepts and role of economics in the oil and gas industry.
  • Analyze supply and demand dynamics and their impact on oil prices.
  • Evaluate cost structures and perform cost analysis in petroleum production.
  • Apply investment decision analysis techniques to assess project viability.
  • Assess risks, uncertainties, and fiscal regimes affecting petroleum economics.
  • Understand methodologies for oil price forecasting and their applications.

Content Outline

Preview

Unit 2013: Petroleum Economics

1. Introduction to Petroleum Economics

  • Definition and scope of petroleum economics
  • Role of economics in the oil and gas industry
  • Key economic principles relevant to petroleum sector
  • Importance of economic decision-making in exploration, production, and marketing

2. Supply and Demand in the Oil Market

  • Fundamentals of supply and demand theory
  • Factors influencing oil supply (e.g., production capacity, technological advances)
  • Factors influencing oil demand (e.g., economic growth, alternative energy sources)
  • Price elasticity of supply and demand in petroleum markets
  • Impact of geopolitical events on oil prices and market stability
  • Case studies of supply-demand shifts and price fluctuations

3. Cost Analysis in Petroleum Production

  • Classification of costs: operating costs, capital expenditures (CAPEX), lifting costs
  • Fixed vs variable costs in petroleum production
  • Cost drivers and their influence on production decisions
  • Techniques for cost estimation and cost control
  • Role of cost analysis in optimizing production efficiency and profitability

4. Investment Decision Analysis

  • Overview of investment appraisal in oil and gas projects
  • Net Present Value (NPV): concept, calculation, and interpretation
  • Internal Rate of Return (IRR): definition and application
  • Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis: methodology and use cases
  • Sensitivity and scenario analysis in investment decision-making
  • Practical examples of investment evaluation in petroleum projects

5. Risk and Uncertainty in Petroleum Economics

  • Types of risks in petroleum economics: market risk, operational risk, political risk
  • Methods for risk identification and assessment
  • Risk management strategies and mitigation techniques
  • Impact of uncertainty on project valuation and investment decisions
  • Use of probabilistic models and decision trees

6. Taxation and Fiscal Regimes in Oil-Producing Countries

  • Overview of taxation systems applicable to the petroleum sector
  • Royalty regimes and their economic implications
  • Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs): structure and fiscal impact
  • Tax incentives and their role in attracting investment
  • Comparative analysis of fiscal regimes across key oil-producing countries
  • Implications of fiscal policy changes on petroleum economics

7. Oil Price Forecasting

  • Importance of accurate oil price forecasting for strategic planning
  • Methods and models for forecasting oil prices:
    • Supply-demand balance models
    • Econometric and time series models
    • Geopolitical and qualitative analysis
    • Market speculation and futures markets
  • Challenges and limitations of oil price forecasting
  • Application of forecasts in corporate strategy and investment planning
Unlock the full outline
Get the complete content outline, learning outcomes and assessment methods for Petroleum Economics.
KSh 20 one-off, or included with a plan

Learning Outcomes

Unlock the outline above to see learning outcomes.

Assessment Methods

Unlock the outline above to see assessment methods.

Quick Information

Unit Petroleum Economics
Difficulty Intermediate
Duration40 hours
Topics7
CreatedJul 20, 2026
GeneratedJul 20, 2026 12:57

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of economics principles
  • Fundamentals of finance and accounting
  • Introductory knowledge of the oil and gas industry

Recommended Resources

  • Economics of the Oil and Gas Industry by Joseph H. Bamberg
  • Petroleum Economics and Engineering by Hussein K. Abdel-Aal
  • Oil & Gas Company Analysis: Petroleum Refining & Marketing by Aloke Mukherjee
  • Energy Economics: Concepts, Issues, Markets and Governance by Subhes C. Bhattacharyya
  • IEA (International Energy Agency) reports and statistics
  • EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration) data and publications

Unit Topics

7
Introduction to Petroleum Economics
This topic introduces the fundamentals of petroleum economics, including the role of economics in th...
Supply and Demand in the Oil Market
This topic explores the concepts of supply and demand in the oil market, including factors influenci...
Cost Analysis in Petroleum Production
This topic covers the various costs associated with petroleum production, including operating costs,...
Investment Decision Analysis
This topic delves into investment decision analysis techniques used in the oil and gas industry, suc...
Risk and Uncertainty in Petroleum Economics
This topic explores the concept of risk and uncertainty in petroleum economics, including risk asses...
Taxation and Fiscal Regimes in Oil-Producing Countries
This topic examines the various taxation systems and fiscal regimes implemented in oil-producing cou...
Oil Price Forecasting
This topic focuses on the methods and models used for oil price forecasting, including supply-demand...