The world relies on the fossil fuel industry
and it’s essential everywhere in the world. In fact, this can generate global
revenues of trillions of dollars, and why shouldn’t you take a piece of the pie
when this is the case?
Most companies like the Royal Dutch Shell and
ExxonMobil are all gas and oil producers, but just because you’ve heard about
them, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should invest in the first company
that you come across. Meanwhile, you can read more about oil when you click here.
With its market volatility in the past, it’s no
wonder why so many people choose other alternative investments. However,
there’s no doubt that the two deserve a space in your portfolio because of the
increasing demand in the transportation and heating industries.
However, know that there are certain risks,
where you can expect a cycle where they can be up the next day and down in the
moment. As with other investments, they have their ups and downs, and their
volatility can be controlled by other factors. When there was an oil price war,
the stock prices and gas sectors collapsed. However, when Russia started its
war campaign in Ukraine, the prices also increased.
Another is the unpredictable economy of the
two, where many explorations don’t often yield fruitful mines. Even if there’s
a small presence of an oil deposit in an area, it doesn’t mean that it’s going
to be consistent for decades. The well might dry out, and they can result in
millions of dollars in losses for those investments that didn’t pan out.
Also, there’s the consideration for the
environment because too much carbon combustion can be harmful to the ozone
layer. As a result, governments are trying to switch to more eco-friendly
alternatives like solar or wind power.
Different
Segments of the Industry
Before investing, know that there are upstream
companies that are heavily involved in the exploration of new sites, where the
oil and gas can be mined. These are the firms that are always searching for a
reservoir of fossil fuels and arranging the funding to drill and extract the
materials. These are known as the E&P types.
They are known for their high-risk, high-return
features, where the duration can be extended. They can also require intensive
technology and workforce, and this is why most of their income statement and
cash flow of oil and gas investment opportunities come from the rigging related to
oil and gas. Most firms don’t own their drilling equipment, but they hire a
third-party company to do the drilling and establish the wells on their behalf.
After drilling the well, there’s maintenance,
and servicing like cementing, perforating, logging, casing, and fracturing that
should be done, and they all require money. This is why they might not be often
ideal for those investors who want a quick buck because this involves a lot of
waiting.
On the other hand, midstream firms are the ones
that are heavily focused on the logistics and transportation of oil and gas.
The extracted materials are often needed to be shipped or carried by trucks or
they need a pipeline where the transport will be easier. Know that they are
highly regulated, but they are known for their low-risk capital. Their success
is often going to depend on the revenue of the upstream companies.
Then, there are the downstream companies that
deal with the removal of impurities and dirt from the oil. They are essentially
considered to be refineries, and they are available to the general public
including asphalt, heating oil, jets, fuel pumps, and gasoline stations.
What are the
Benefits?