We Gambled Everything

We gambled everything-our careers, our fortunes, the future of our nation-and every day brought new discoveries. It was like living on a frontier. -Arne Nielsen During his six decades in the business, Canadian Petroleum Hall of Famer Arne Nielsen witnessed critical events in the oil industry and influenced Canada's economic history. Nielsen's expansive knowledge of geology and the oil industry has made him one of the most influential figures of his time. He first made his mark with the discovery of one of North America's largest oil fields, near Pembina, Alberta. Later, as chief executive politician of a major oil company-oil and politics are inseparable-he represented the industry to the federal government on critical issues. Arne Nielsen witnessed the evolution of the oil industry that is a key driver of Alberta's contemporary economy. His memoir provides crucial details and unique perspectives on events that will be of interest to the next generation of oil industry executives as well as to consumers, economists, and ecologists. Arne Nielsen is a retired petroleum geologist and senior corporate executive. He earned his BSc and MSc in geology from the University of Alberta and went on to discover the Pembina Cardium oil field near Devon, Alberta in 1953. Arne Nielsen became President and General Manager of Mobil Oil Canada, then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Superior Oil, and was twice Chairman of the Canadian Petroleum Association. He was co-architect of the energy policies adopted by the Mulroney government after the contentious National Energy Program of the 1980s. He participated in Canada's first energy trade mission to China in 1972. He lives in Calgary, Alberta.