Customer Reviews

Dome: The Rise and Fall of the House That Jack Built

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As a former employee of Dome Petroleum, I became interested in this book for a number of reasons: historical, biographical, financial, and technological.

The book is well-written and illustrated. The events surrounding the formation of the company are quite remarkable. In particular, I admired the pioneering work of the late Jack Gallagher, the quest for Beaufort Sea (Arctic) oil and gas, and the engineering accomplishments in a frigid climate. The book also discusses the relationship among the government, bankers, and the oil patch. The financial nightmare that began with Dome's multi-billion dollar takeover of Hudson's Bay Oil and Gas led to the downfall of Dome, at the time that oil prices were heading downhill and interest rates were about 22%. The Canadian government's National Energy Program was also a contributor.

One wonders how Dome would have fared, had oil and gas prices improved in the 80's.

The book is an easy read. For those readers who are more interested in financial details about the company, or in exploring the relationships among Dome, the banks, and the government in greater detail, I also recommend Peter Foster's "Other People's Money".