David Lawrence worked with Shell for almost three decades, ultimately retiring from his post as executive vice president, exploration and commercial of Shell Upstream Americas in 2013. Since retiring from Shell, he has founded Lawrence Energy Group LLC, an energy investment and advisory firm pursuing a variety of global plays. David Lawrence stresses the importance of application of technology, unique insights and operational excellence as well as a diverse energy portfolio, which helps add stability to investors, energy companies, and national economies.

1. David Lawrence, Shell
Fuel Diversity Adds Stability to
Energy Companies

2. Introduction
 David Lawrence worked with Shell for almost three decades, ultimately
retiring from his post as executive vice president, exploration and
commercial of Shell Upstream Americas in 2013. Since retiring from
Shell, he has founded Lawrence Energy Group LLC, an energy
investment and advisory firm pursuing a variety of global plays. David
Lawrence stresses the importance of application of technology, unique
insights and operational excellence as well as a diverse energy
portfolio, which helps add stability to investors, energy companies, and
national economies.
A benefit of diverse portfolio to energy companies centers on flexibility.
Global energy markets are in a constant state of flux. If an energy
company invests exclusively in only one types of play or commodity, it
may gain the benefit of focus and concentration of expertise and
operational knowledge but it runs the risk of decreasing in value when
those energy sources dip in price. Energy companies with diverse
portfolios can respond to changes in local and global markets by shifting
resources away from away from one source and reallocating them to a
more profitable energy type.
From a consumer perspective, in the power sector this flexibility
translates to more reliable electricity for homes and businesses in the
United States. Stable energy also has broad effects on the economy as
a whole, making fuel diversity essential in ensuring a thriving economy.