I am absolutely thrilled with the From Fossil to Fuel course. As a new graduate entering the industry, I was intimidated by the jargon and the sheer scale of operations. This course broke everything down beautifully. The fourteen modules follow the value chain in a logical order, so every new topic builds on the last, which really helps with retention. I loved the hands-on approach; using physical analogies and real diagrams made concepts like hydraulic fracturing and completions much easier to grasp. It is not just about memorizing terms; it is about understanding how decisions in one area affect cost and safety elsewhere. The instructor’s passion is evident, and the room felt like a conversation rather than a lecture. Knowing that the course has won a 2023 multimedia award and has taught hundreds of people gives me confidence that this is a high-quality resource. I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to truly understand the business.
Questions about From Fossil to Fuel
What is From Fossil to Fuel?
From Fossil to Fuel is an education provider that offers an Oil and Gas 101 course walking participants through the complete oil and gas value chain, from fossil fuel formation to everyday fuels and products. The course uses visuals, analogies, stories, and participant questions instead of dense technical lectures. It has been taught since 2020 and is accompanied by a 24-episode podcast. The company also provides corporate training bookings for organizations wanting to bring the course in-house.
Who exactly is this course built for?
The course is designed for new industry talent, experienced non-technical professionals, and external or public-sector learners. New industry talent includes summer students, interns, new graduates, and employees new to the industry. Experienced non-technical professionals are those with roughly five or more years in oil and gas working outside core technical operations, such as HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Supply Chain, or Accounting. External and public-sector learners include government employees, regulators, partners, investors, educators, and members of the public seeking a practical understanding of the industry.
How can I get started or book the course?
Participants can register for upcoming public sessions or request corporate training to bring the course to their company. The curriculum consists of fourteen modules that follow the value chain in order, starting with Formation of Fossil Fuels and ending with Upgraders & Refineries. Optional add-on modules for LNG and Oil Sands are available on request. The course is delivered as public courses and corporate training, with a companion podcast available on Podbean.
What does the curriculum look like step by step?
The course is delivered through fourteen sequential modules covering topics from Rock Geology to Pipelines and Production. Each module builds on the last to create one connected story from the ground to the gas pump. The teaching style relies on visuals, analogies, and stories rather than dense technical lectures to simplify complex operational concepts. Participants leave with a shared language and a shared picture of how their work fits into the broader business context.
Who might find this course less relevant?
The course targets three specific learner profiles: new industry talent, experienced non-technical professionals, and external public-sector learners. It is not explicitly designed for those with no prior exposure to the industry at all, though no technical background is required. The course connects parts of the value chain that may be outside a participant's own area, making it suitable for support functions like Supply Chain and Legal. It is less focused on deep technical engineering details compared to a specialized engineering degree program.
What awards and credentials does the business hold?
The course is recognized as a 2023 Petroleum History Society Multimedia Award recipient for its development and presentation of an educational program covering the people, operations, and achievements of the petroleum industry. The instructor, Brendan MacDougall, holds a P.Eng designation and has over 17 years of industry experience with companies like Ovintiv and Chevron. The course has been taught in Calgary, Denver, and Houston since 2020.
What specific topics and modules are included in the course?
The course covers fourteen specific modules including Formation of Fossil Fuels, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Midstream & Marketing. It also offers optional add-on modules for LNG and Oil Sands. The goal is to help employees understand how their specific role connects to the broader business operations by describing how oil and gas are formed, found, produced, transported, and refined.
What do Reddit users say about the course?
Some users on Reddit mention the course is award-winning and backed by the instructor's 17+ years of industry experience. The course is described as interactive and full-day, utilizing storytelling to simplify complex concepts. The Reddit posts highlight the instructor's background with Ovintiv and Chevron as a key selling point for the training.
What specific benefits does the business claim for its participants?
The course is described as the most engaging Oil and Gas 101 course in the world on the business's own website. It is designed to help teams leave with a shared language and a shared picture of how their work fits together. The website emphasizes that organizations perform best when employees understand not just their own role but how the entire business creates value.
What delivery formats and additional resources are available?
The course is delivered both as public courses and as corporate training, with the option to bring the course in-house for organizations. It has been taught since 2020 and includes a 24-episode companion podcast. The business offers corporate training bookings for organizations that want to integrate the course into their internal learning programs.
How recent are the reviews and what is the current rating?
The website states the course is a 2023 industry award recipient and has taught over 500 people. The Trustburn rating is 4.2 out of 5 from 5 reviews. The business operates in Calgary, Denver, and Houston, and provides a contact email for inquiries about public courses, corporate training, and the podcast.
Who is the instructor behind this course?
The course is taught by Brendan MacDougall, a Chemical and Petroleum Engineer who graduated from the University of Calgary in 2008. He has completed CFA Level I and has 20+ years of experience across the oil and gas industry. The course was created to help people from every background understand the complete industry through clear visuals and memorable analogies.
What is the official website of From Fossil to Fuel?
The official website of From Fossil to Fuel is fromfossiltofuel.com.
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5 Reviews
The use of physical props and analogies seems much more engaging than standard lectures for complex topics like drilling.
The curriculum looks comprehensive, covering everything from rock geology to upgraders. However, the pricing structure for corporate training is not explicitly listed on the page. It would be helpful to know if the optional add-on modules for LNG and Oil Sands are included in the base fee or charged separately. Since the course boasts interactive elements and physical props, confirming what is included in the day rate would be useful before booking.
The course structure seems well-designed for professionals in support functions like HR or legal. I appreciate that the material covers the entire journey from fossil formation to refineries, ensuring a holistic understanding of the business. The emphasis on using stories and real-world analogies suggests a learning experience that is less dry than typical corporate training. It is encouraging to see that the program has taught over five hundred people since 2020 and received recognition for its multimedia approach. For anyone looking to understand how their specific department fits into the broader oil and gas value chain, this appears to be a very practical option. The ability to bring the training to a company also suggests flexibility for different organizational needs.
I recently attended the From Fossil to Fuel public course and was genuinely impressed by how accessible it made such a complex industry. As someone working in finance, I often feel disconnected from the operational side of things, but this session really helped connect the dots. The instructor uses physical analogies and visual aids instead of boring slide decks, which made the fourteen modules on the value chain feel engaging rather than tedious. I appreciated that no technical background was required, yet there was still depth for experienced learners. It is clear that the course has evolved since 2020, especially with the 2023 industry award recognition. The focus on how individual roles impact cost, safety, and production value was particularly relevant to my daily work. I left with a shared language that I can now use with my technical colleagues. It is rare to find an educational program that balances hands-on learning with practical business context so effectively.
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About From Fossil to Fuel
From Fossil to Fuel is an education provider offering an Oil and Gas 101 course that walks participants through the complete oil and gas value chain, from the formation of fossil fuels to the fuels and products used every day. The course is designed for new industry talent, experienced non-technical professionals, and external or public-sector learners, and uses visuals, analogies, stories, and participant questions rather than dense technical lectures. It has been taught since 2020, is delivered both as public courses and as corporate training, and is accompanied by a 24-episode podcast. The company also offers corporate training bookings for organizations that want to bring the course in-house.
- Website
- fromfossiltofuel.com
- [email protected]
- Categories
- Oil & energy, Professional training & coaching
