Harmonize blocklists

[frnsys]

As pointed out in #12 we have multiple blocklists and should harmonize them into one. Part of this will involve settling on a process for determining what companies will be included on the list.

We currently have two blocklists listed in the repo, the first of which was manually compiled and the other pulled from Nasdaq and NYSE listings. The issue with stock exchange listings is that it only includes publicly-traded companies.

Using SIC codes was suggested in #8 which could be a good complement for the Nasdaq/NYSE listings (it sounds like SIC codes are available for all companies in the UK). NAICS is another alternative but only covers North America afaik. We'd need to look more into how these codes are determined because otherwise there could be loopholes (e.g. is this something a company just chooses for themselves? in which case it could be easy to re-classify to avoid the license restrictions).

For SIC codes there are lists and lookup services but a quick look only shows paid ones...but I imagine this information is public somewhere?

[frnsys]

Actually we don't need to have a complete blocklist, we can just specify the SIC and NAICS codes that are excluded from using the licensed software. That saves us the trouble of maintaining a list. There are sites that allow you to look up a businesses SIC and/or NAICS code, for example https://www.naics.com/company-lookup-tool/

[frnsys]

I think this covers it:

NAICS:

• 221112 - Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
• 2212 - Natural Gas Distribution
  • 221210 - Natural Gas Distribution
• 2111 - Oil and Gas Extraction
• 213112 - Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
• 213111 - Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
• 237120 - Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction
• 4247 - Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers
  • 424710 - Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
  • 424720 - Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)
• 4861 - Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
• 4862 - Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
• 486910 - Pipeline Transportation of Refined Petroleum Products
• 3241 - Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
• 325110 - Petrochemical Manufacturing
• 333132 - Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
• These include oil/gas/petroleum but are also broad and cover many other things
  • 423830 - Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers, includes oil well machinery
  • 333249 - Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing, includes "Petroleum refining machinery manufacturing"
  • 484230 - Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance, includes petroleum trucking
  • 541330 - Engineering Services, includes "petroleum engineering services"
  • 493190 - Other Warehousing and Storage, includes "Bulk petroleum storage"
  • 336611 - Ship Building and Repairing, includes " Drilling and production platforms, floating, oil and gas, building"
  • 488999 - All Other Support Activities for Transportation, includes "Liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants"
• Note: Coal extraction and related activities also fall under NAICS code 21

SIC:

• 13—Oil and Gas Extraction
• 3533—Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment
• 29—Petroleum Refining And Related Industries
• 5172—Petroleum and Petroleum Products Wholesalers, Except Bulk Stations and Terminals
• 5171—Petroleum Bulk stations and Terminals
• 4612—Crude Petroleum Pipelines
• 4613—Refined Petroleum Pipelines
• 4922—Natural Gas Transmission
• 4925—Mixed, Manufactured, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas Production and/or
• 4923—Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution
• 4924—Natural Gas Distribution
• 4932—Gas and Other Services Combined
• These include oil/gas/petroleum but are also broad and cover many other things
  • 3561—Pumps and Pumping Equipment, includes "Pumps, oil well and field"
  • 5084—Industrial Machinery and Equipment, includes "Oil refining machinery, equipment, and supplies—wholesale" and more
  • 1629—Heavy Construction, Not Elsewhere Classified, includes "Oil refinery construction", "Petroleum refinery construction", and more
  • 3731—Ship Building and Repairing, includes "Drilling and production platforms, floating, oil and gas"
  • 3559—Special Industry Machinery, Not Elsewhere Classified, includes "Petroleum refinery equipment"
  • 4226—Special Warehousing and Storage, Not Elsewhere Classified, includes "Petroleum and chemical bulk stations and terminals for hire"
  • 8711—Engineering Services, includes "Petroleum engineering services"

[frnsys]

A friend said that these codes are usually either self-reported or used at a third-party's discretion, so that's one downside. He also suggested finding database of wells and their operators in oil-producing states.

Looking at the list above, it is really broad. Is it too broad? The language around the license mostly focuses on extraction and most of the discussion around AI/tech and oil/gas focuses on extraction as well.