Robert T. Harvey's Publications

• The Hunt for Red October, Robert T. Harvey December, 2010 by Robert T. Harvey Tom Clancy has written some of the most iconic books in the thriller genre, with many receiving critical acclaim and spawning film and video game adaptations. The Hunt for Red October is one of his best known novels; it introduces his long-standing protagonist, CIA analyst Jack Ryan, who became the central character in novels such as Patriot Games, Red Rabbit, Clear and Present Danger, The Sum of All Fears, and Debt of Honor. Jack Ryan’s popularity and heavy presence in Clancy’s novels earned the recognition of fans and critics, who have dubbed his series the “Jack Ryan Universe.” The Hunt for Red October follows Jack Ryan as he attempts to track down the nuclear submarine Red October, which is operated by the Soviet Navy and capable of evading sonar detection. In addition to showing Ryan’s perspective, The Hunt for Red October also greatly develops the character of the Lithuanian submarine captain Marko Aleksandrovich Ramius, whose defection to the United States is motivated in part by the death of his wife Natalia at the hands of a politically protected doctor. Through several confrontations, betrayals, and torpedoes, the Red October is eventually escorted to safety in Norfolk, Virginia, led by Ryan and two United States submarines. The novel was inspired by events that took place ten years before it was published. In 1975, Soviet Navy captain Valery Sablin staged a mutiny on the anti-submarine frigate Storozhevoy, attempting to seize and steer it from Riga to Leningrad. Sablin’s hope was to inform the country about political corruption and the death of justice. Although his attempt failed, Sablin served as the foundation for the character of Ramius. In 1990, director John McTiernan created a film based on the novel, with Sean Connery playing the part of Ramius and Alec Baldwin portraying Jack Ryan. The film version of The Hunt for Red October went on to receive widespread critical praise.

• Independents May Play a Key Role in the Future of Alaskan Oil, Robert T. Harvey October, 2011 by Robert T. Harvey Synopsis: Robert T. Harvey serves as the President and founder of Harvest Petroleum, Inc., an independent oil producer based in Frisco, Texas. He examines the role that independents similar to Harvest Petroleum may have in developing Alaskan oil reserves. Independent producers are playing a larger role than ever in domestic American oil and gas production because they can drill smaller reserves that the major oil companies cannot justify. With the price of oil expected to keep rising, the industry will likely continue to see independent startups contributing a greater share of oil production. Alaska, of course, remains one of the larger oil resources left in America, and interest in drilling Alaskan oil is a regular feature in the mainstream press. Data from this state suggests that oil exploration and drilling will continue to follow the national trends toward independent production. Historically, Alaskan oil production has been dominated by the majors; only in the last 10 years have independents started to get involved. Since 2000, small companies have leased hundreds of thousands of acres of land for oil exploration, particularly in the North Slope region of the National Petroleum Reserve. A few of those companies have begun to produce oil, spurring interest among other smaller producers. Consolidation among the majors has also helped further the trend toward independent production in Alaska. Some of these larger companies have passed over relatively large oil fields they deemed too small for their purposes. Smaller, more nimble independents, however, are able to capitalize on those fields and earn a healthy profit. Another factor that has contributed to the growth in independent Alaskan oil production has been a series of tax incentives passed by the state government. In addition to providing exploration credits that benefit smaller operators, the state has resolved complex legal disputes in order to keep pipeline costs down, a major benefit for smaller oil producers. As such, all signs are pointing to continued growth of independent oil production in the state.

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