• Help: Using Petroleum and Geophysics Literature
  • Research tips
• Finding Books & Journals in Petroleum and Geophysics
• Indexes and Databases
• Maps
• Selected Reference and Background Information Sources
  • Dictionaries, Handbooks, & Directories
  • Drilling and Economic Assessment
  • Production (statistics, completions, reserves, etc.):
  • Regional Geology

• Check with your librarian to find out about new resources and electronic databases. If you are not on campus, try the online Ask A Librarian form.
• Look for library guides in related disciplines.
• Know your library’s classification system. The CSM Library uses Library of Congress (LC). Use it to browse for information. In our Library, most engineering materials are located in the T’s.
• Become familiar with core works in your field. Use these as a base to start your search.
• Keyword choices are important. Add keywords to your search from publications you've already identified and from thesauri and indexes.
• Evaluate your sources--especially Internet sources. Check for updating, type and date of coverage, publisher and/or author.

The Library of Congress Classification Scheme for books

• QC801: Geophysics
• TP690: Petroleum Refining, Petroleum Products
• TN871.5: Petroleum Engineering
• TN879.5: Petroleum pipelines

Use the following Library catalogs to find books (use the ILL form to request books not at CSM)

• Catalyst - to find CSM materials
• Prospector - to find materials at Colorado libraries.
• WorldCat - to find materials elsewhere.

Online Books in Petroleum Engineering (Access is restricted to CSM IP addresses)

• Knovel Subject Area Oil & Gas (60 titles, June 2007)
• Knovel Oil & Gas Supplement (39 titles, June 2007)

Petroleum Journals in the CSM Library Check GoldRush to see if a particular title is available electronically

Geophysics Journals in the Library Check GoldRush  to see if a particular title is available electronically

Use the following Library catalogs to find journals  (use the ILL form to request articles not at CSM)

• Catalyst - to find Arthur Lakes Library journals.
  • Search by Journal Title
• Prospector - to find journals at Colorado libraries.
  • Search by Journal Title
• WorldCat - to find journals elsewhere. Connect from Databases page.

Petroleum Journals Online: Open Access Electronic Journals

• AAPG Datapages  - AAPG Bulletin, AAPG Memoirs, etc. (1917-present). Connect from Databases page
• AAPG Comprehensive Index, 1917-1985 TN860 .A312 REF
• Cumulative Index of Geophysics, 1936-88 TN260 .S62 STACKS
• Compendex (1884-present); Major engineering database. Connect from Databases page
• Geophysics and Tectonics Abstracts REF
• GeoRef, 1785-present. Major geology database. Connect from Databases page
• Index to Well Logging Literature, 1965-1984 Z6972 .I5 REF
• NTIS (1964-present. Index to US Government-sponsored technical research. Connect from Databases page
• Petroleum Abstracts. Connect from Databases page, uses AAPG Datapages interface.
• SPE Library, technical papers (1950's-present). Each user must Register. Connect from Databases page.
• US Geological Survey Publications Index (U.S. Govt Publications Reference Room (Floor 1))

Maps owned by the Library can be found by searching Catalyst. Maps can also be identified by using general subject indexes such as GeoRef or by using the map indexes available in the Map Room. Dissertations and theses are another good source of maps. Check the Map Room's Website for further information and links to other resources.

• The Geophysical Directory TN867 .G46 REF
• Landman's Encyclopedia KF1865 .A65 H3 REF
• Manual of Oil and Gas Terms KF1847.5 .W54 REF
• Petroleum Geology Handbook TN870.5 .S7213 REF
• Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering TN870 .S6233 REF
• Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

• Costs of Drilling for Natural Gas and Oil in the United States (1986 base) TN880.2 .C67 STACKS
• Costs and Indexes for Domestic Oil and Gas Field Equipment and Production Operations
• Development Geology Reference Manual TN870.5 .D486 REF
• Indexes and Estimates of Domestic Well Drilling Costs E 3.44: GOV DOCS
• Joint Association Survey on Drilling Costs TN871.2 .J6 REF

• Annual Energy Review Wait for the PURL redirect, then type "annual energy review" in the title search box, or select it from the A-Z list
• Basic Petroleum Data Book HD9564 .B853 REF
• Energy Statistics Sourcebook HD9502.A1 E562 REF
• International Oil and Gas Development TN862 .N3 REF & STACKS
• International Petroleum Encyclopedia HD9560.5 .I59 REF & BOE
• Leading Indicators of the Rocky Mountain Region Oil and Gas Drilling Activity T3495 (CSM thesis)
• Oil and Natural Gas Producing Industry in Your State HD9564 .I557 STACKS
• Reserves of Crude Oil, Natural Gas Liquids, and Natural Gas in the United States and Canada and United States Productive Capacity TN872 .A315 STACKS & REF
• Resume: A Review of Oil and Gas Activity in the United States TN860 .P437a REF & BOE

• Dissertations and theses -- These often include original maps, details on the geology of a region and a review section with additional sources.
• Catalyst for CSM theses and dissertations
• Dissertation Abstracts for U.S., Canadian, British, and other European dissertations and theses
• Geological guidebooks -- Examples are guidebooks sponsored by AAPG, SEPM, GSA, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Wyoming Geological Association, Montana Geological Society, etc.
• Geological maps. Most of the Library’s maps are accessible in Catalyst.