About the Industry

Like any industry, the oil and gas industry is broken down into various sectors and specializations. Much like in finance, where individuals or firms will specialize in a specific area such as fixed income or private equity, the oil and gas industry has very distinct areas, which fall under the general "oil and gas" umbrella. While a few super-majors, such as Shell and Total, will have lines of business across all sectors, most firms will focus on specific niche in the industry. Each area plays a critical role in providing energy for the world's needs and presents its own unique challenges and opportunities.

The Industry is divided into four main sectors:

• Upstream (exploration, development and production of crude oil or natural gas)
• Midstream (pipelines, terminals and transload facilities)
• Downstream (oil tankers, refiners, retailers and consumers)
• Service and supply