The Most Engaging Oil and Gas 101 Course in the World
Learn the language. Connect the dots. Understand how YOUR role connects to the business.
Bring it to your company
- Taught since 2020
- 500+ people taught
- 2023 industry award recipient
- 24-episode companion podcast
What the course does
One connected story, from the ground to the gas pump
Organizations perform best when employees understand not just their own role, but how the entire business creates value. From Fossil to Fuel walks participants through the complete oil and gas value chain — from the formation of fossil fuels to the fuels and products used every day.
Instead of dense technical lectures, the course is built around visuals, analogies, stories and participant questions. Complex operational concepts are simplified and connected back to the broader business context, so teams leave with a shared language and a shared picture of how their work fits together.
Who it's for
Built for three kinds of learners
No technical background required. Experienced participants benefit too — the course connects parts of the value chain outside their own area.
New Industry Talent
Oil and gas summer students, interns, new graduates and employees who are new to the industry.
Experienced Non-Technical Professionals
Professionals with roughly five or more years in oil and gas whose roles are outside core technical operations — HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Supply Chain, Accounting and other support functions.
External & Public-Sector Learners
Government employees, regulators, partners, investors, educators and members of the public who want a practical understanding of how the industry works.
The journey
From fossil to fuel, one connected step at a time
Fourteen modules follow the value chain in order, so every new topic builds on the last.
- 1
Formation of Fossil Fuels
- 2
Rock Geology
- 3
Conventional vs. Unconventional Resources
- 4
Drilling
- 5
Completions
- 6
Hydraulic Fracturing
- 7
Operations
- 8
Facilities
- 9
Pipelines
- 10
Reserves & Well Inventory
- 11
Production
- 12
Workovers & Abandonments
- 13
Midstream & Marketing
- 14
Upgraders & Refineries
Optional add-on modules available on request: LNG · Oil Sands.
Learning outcomes
What participants can do by the end of the day
- Describe how oil and gas are formed, found, produced, transported and refined.
- Explain the basic purpose of drilling, completions, production equipment and facilities.
- Understand how the different parts of the oil and gas industry connect.
- Use common industry terms and communicate more confidently with technical and non-technical teams.
- Recognize how everyday decisions across the value chain affect cost, production, safety and business value.
Why it's different
Not another slide deck
From Fossil to Fuel is hands-on, visual and practical — designed around real-world analogies, stories and memorable “aha” moments.
Hands-on and visual
Real diagrams, physical analogies and props replace dense slides, so ideas click instead of scrolling past.
Built on real-world analogies
Complex operations are explained through stories and comparisons that stick, not just terminology.
Genuinely interactive
Participant questions shape the room. It's a conversation, not a lecture delivered at people.
Connected to business value
Every module ties back to cost, production, safety and how individual roles affect the bottom line.
In the room
Real course sessions, not stock photos
Every photo on this site is from an actual From Fossil to Fuel session.
What participants say
Trusted across finance, operations and leadership
“Brendan's “From Fossil to Fuel” course provided a fantastic introduction to the operational side of oil and gas. The course gave me a much stronger appreciation for how different teams contribute to the overall success of the business and helped connect the dots between operations and the work we do in support functions. Brendan brings a lot of passion to what he teaches and makes the content accessible for a wide range of experience levels.”
“I highly recommend Brendan MacDougall and his course From Fossil to Fuel. Coming from an accounting background with virtually no prior knowledge of the oil and gas industry, I found his course incredibly valuable and well-structured. After taking it, it was no wonder why everyone at the company raved about the course. Brendan does an excellent job explaining the entire lifecycle of fossil fuels—from how they are formed deep within the earth, to how they are extracted, refined and ultimately used in everyday products. What really sets the course apart for me is how clearly and simply the material is presented.”
“After spending over 18 years within the energy industry, I decided to attend Brendan MacDougall's presentation, From Fossil to Fuel, after hearing so many rave reviews—and I was definitely not disappointed. Coming from the finance side of the business, I initially thought the material might be too technical. However, the analogies used to explain the technical aspects of the industry were simple, relatable and easy to remember.”
Petroleum History Society Multimedia Award
Recognized for the development and presentation of a well-produced educational program covering the people, operations and achievements of the petroleum industry.
Awarded to Brendan MacDougall for From Fossil to Fuel.
Public course
Join an upcoming public session
Individual seats for professionals who want to attend on their own, alongside participants from other companies.
From Fossil to Fuel — Public Course
- Date
- Friday, November 13, 2026
- Time
- 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Venue
- The Ampersand, Calgary, Alberta
- Exact address coming soon.
- Capacity
- Up to 40 participants
Details coming soon.
For companies
Bring the course to your team
A private session delivered at your office, customized around your operations.
- Groups of 15–40 participants
- Private courses are normally delivered at the client's office. Brendan can travel.
- Course content can be customized around a company's operational areas. Shorter versions can be requested.
- Participants receive a digital certificate suitable for LinkedIn.
Investment
$750 USD
per participant, plus applicable GST/taxes
8 instructional hours — one full day or two half days.
In-person delivery is strongly recommended. Virtual delivery may be available when appropriate.
A 24-episode companion podcast acts as a free digital textbook for pre-work, reinforcement or ongoing reference.
Free companion podcast
24 episodes. One free digital textbook.
A 24-episode companion series that mirrors the course journey, module by module. Each episode is a concise, digital-textbook-style refresher you can listen to before, during or long after the course.
Meet the instructor
Brendan MacDougall
Brendan is a Chemical and Petroleum Engineer who graduated from the University of Calgary in 2008 and has completed CFA Level I. He created From Fossil to Fuel to help people from every background understand the complete oil and gas industry — not through dense technical lectures, but through clear visuals, memorable analogies, stories and hands-on explanations.
He doesn’t just teach the material. He makes it make sense.
- 500+ taught
- 2023 PHS Award
- Podcast creator
Ready to connect the dots?
Register for an upcoming public session, or bring From Fossil to Fuel to your company.