Erdöl WeltAtlas

The Erdöl Weltatlas (World Atlas of Oil) is a fascinating and highly detailed publication that serves as a valuable resource for understanding the global petroleum and natural gas industries up to the mid-20th century. The atlas is not just a repository of historical data but also a forward-looking resource designed to illuminate future trends and opportunities in this dynamic sector. The atlas offers an in-depth exploration of the oil industry, from extraction to transportation and global reserves. With meticulously designed maps and illustrations, it provides a historical snapshot of oil production, refinery locations, pipelines, and the geographical distribution of oil resources.

It chronicles the astonishing growth of the petroleum industry, illustrated by key statistics: from a modest 21 million tons of annual production at the turn of the 20th century to 1,505 million tons by 1965. Similarly, it highlights the transformative rise of natural gas, showcasing how its production surged from 4 to 715 billion cubic meters annually within 65 years. These figures are complemented by an impressive array of thematic maps that present a unified and accessible depiction of the industry's operations, reserves, and infrastructure.

A noteworthy feature of this atlas is its dual focus on current realities and future projections. By integrating data on ongoing construction and planning projects, the atlas serves not only as a snapshot of the industry’s status quo but also as a window into its developmental trajectory. This duality makes it invaluable not only to industry stakeholders but also to educators, students, and policymakers.

The atlas consists of three main divisions:

1. World overview and statistics providing global perspective of the oil industry
2. Regional maps and analysis including detailed breakdowns of countries, showing their oil production capabilities and infrastructure
3. Technological part featuring insights and schematic diagrams describing technical aspects of oil production, transport, infrastructure and technological processes

The atlas was developed in collaboration of a broad network of experts and organizations, with particular credit given to Esso A.G. for its pivotal role as both promoter and contributor.

The Erdöl Weltatlas is a noteworthy blend of cartography, technical knowledge, and industrial history. It’s an essential piece for anyone interested in the evolution of the oil industry, and it serves as both an educational tool and a collector’s item for enthusiasts of industrial history and cartography.