They say the best thing about creating a newsletter is the direct relationships you build with your audience.

No algorithms, no spam, no how-do-I-make-this-shit-go-viral?

Just the simple, consensual sharing of curated ideas and info about a mutual passion. From my mind to yours through the unkillable, unimpeachable medium of email.

So, in the spirit of relationships and getting to know one another, I thought I’d use the impending curtain call of 2023 as an excuse to shed some light on what’s going on behind the scenes at Both Barrels and on the keyboard warrior who dumps an energy update into your inbox every morning.

Sound good? Cool.

First, a look back:

Under the hood:

Both Barrels is still a baby. A little mom-and-pop well, eking out just a few drops a day.

I sent the first edition on 21st August to one person: myself.

And here’s where we’re at today:

• 78 installments sent every weekday morning, come rain or shine.

• 210 subscribers mostly in the USA and UK (shout-out to the lone reader in New Zealand)

• Average open rate of 60.6%.

These numbers are still tiny but heading in the right direction.

So, if you’re reading this, a BIG sincere thanks for being an early supporter and for spreading the word.

Knowing the newsletter brings you value and the odd laugh is the kerosene I need to get this off the ground in these early days of obscurity and grind.

(In case anyone’s interested, I use a newsletter platform called Beehiiv for all-things writing and distribution. It’s top notch.)

And in energy…

To be honest, it ain’t hard showing up everyday when there’s so much interesting stuff going on in our sector.

2023 was a another chaotic year. Is it ever not?

Here’s a reminder of what went down:

• 🤑 M&A mania in the US shale patch (well over $100bn spent)

• 📉 The wind and solar industries met a long overdue reckoning

• ⚛️ Nuclear power fought its way back into the big time

• ☹️ The Middle East jolted violently into bedlam and bloodshed after a period of relative calm

• ✈️ The truth-is-crazier-than-fiction mob story continued in Russia with a failed coup and an airborne assassination

• 💪 And the themes of energy security and affordability doubled down on the prominence they established last year.

God / Allah / Yahweh / Buddha knows what 2024 holds but you can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be dull.

And we’ll be here to keep you up to speed with every twist, turn, barrel and Btu.

Who am I and why am I doing this?

I first joined the industry in 2014 as a fresh faced oil market analyst in London.

Things got off to a dubious start when the OPEC / US shale price war sent the market into a multi-year tailspin almost the second my overly shiny brogues were under the desk.

Through sheer luck and shameless brown-nosing, I managed to cling onto my job and have since been hooked by an industry that has more layers than a Russian Ukrainian doll.

One day you’re wondering if EVs really are going to upend oil demand, the next you’re trying to figure out the consequences of MBS stringing up his own family in the Ritz, and the next you’re tracking corporate jets for clues about who’s going to be the next gazillion dollar takeover target.

There’s no sector like it, and certainty none as important to each and every one us, whether you work in it or not.

As Vaclav Smil says, energy is THE universal currency.

But most don’t even realize they’re spending it. Or worse, villainize it.

Which brings me nicely to the ‘why’.

Besides being a total energy geek that enjoys researching and writing about the sector, I find myself on a small crusade.

One that aims to make people proud of working in this industry rather than apologizing for it. And one that’s trying to re-balance the narrative that brands O&G as public enemy #1 when actually the sector is responsible for the unthinkably comfortable lives most of us live compared to our forefathers.

If this little newsletter can advance either of those causes just an inch or two, then it will be time well spent.

Bring on 2024

What next?

The plan is to keep showing up, making improvements, and let compounding work its magic to gradually grow Both Barrels into the go-to independent and irreverent source of updates, insights, and laughs for the oil & gas industry.

If that sounds good to you, or indeed if it doesn’t, then please hit reply to this and let rip with your ideas and feedback. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate and enjoy hearing from you lot.

Alright, that’s all from me. Time to go back to hanging out with the fam and boring them to death about why our net-zero policies are a disaster and why they should put their pensions into uranium (not investment advice!).

All the best for the rest of the holidays. Enjoy the small the stuff. And see you in the new year.

Brent 🛢️🛢️

P.S. I’ll be back with your regular daily updates on Jan. 2nd.