RBN ENERGY: Virtuoso Network Delivers Insightful Analysis in Style

“Our mission is to make sense out of complex and sometimes quite opaque energy markets to help our clients create a deep understanding,” RBN Energy (RBN) offers by way of introduction, “and to do it in style.” Founded in 2012 by Rusty Braziel following the sale of leading analytics and information company BENTEK Energy, RBN was instated just as the Shale Revolution was in the process of upending markets that industry veterans had so long taken for granted.

“A new way of thinking about the relationships between commodities and their markets was needed,” RBN explains, resulting in the inception of Rusty Braziel’s Network (RBN), to leverage Braziel’s decades of industry experience. The aim was clear, RBN says. “We set out to demystify aspects of the industry that were previously only known to a select few insiders and explain why markets were behaving in ways few at the time understood.”

Originally transmitted in the form of free daily energy blogs which merged a straightforward style with the irreverent flair of Brazier’s rock ‘n’ roll heritage, its work, which sought to subvert traditional ways of thinking, quickly gained traction, and soon RBN stood for a formidable network of experienced energy professionals harbouring the foremost experts in the U.S. energy industry.

FRESH APPROACH

“We strive to provide insightful analysis of energy markets in a way that is not boring,” RBN condenses of its esoteric and highly successful ethos, which has seen this blog snowball into a phenomenon which last year hit is 40,000 daily readers milestone. “Energy information can and should be not only informative and accurate, but also engaging.”

Eschewing what it terms the, “dry, mind-numbing tomes that tend to pervade [our] industry,” RBN instead favours an approach that weaves the ‘what, why, and who’ of energy market developments into interesting, thought-provoking narratives – “that get to the bottom line without overwhelming with tedious statistics or dense, muddled graphics,” the company adds.

Of course, dry as these statistics can typically be, RBN knows the value of this data, has it in droves and understands it fully. “But energy markets are about much more than number crunching,” RBN argues. “To truly grasp today’s chaotic, rapidly evolving energy markets, you need deep experience to put the numbers in a meaningful context,” and this is where RBN’s synergy of analytics together with the know-how of industry veterans – its ‘networkers’ – truly comes into its own in allowing it to fully discern the workings behind energy market developments.

“That is the idea behind RBN,” sets out Braziel. “We bring together experts with complementary skills to fit the customers’ needs and can make the best use of all the information available to analyse and understand energy markets.”  While RBN is based in Houston, its focus traverses North American energy markets and its team of networkers now spans the globe.

“RBN is all about making connections across energy markets,” it condenses. “We connect energy data and knowledgeable experts to our readers in an entertaining and thought-provoking manner, and we connect physical markets for energy commodities with financial markets for managing risk.

“Most importantly, we connect the people who need energy market information with the data and analysis they need to make informed, sound decisions,” summarises this unrivalled group of industry authorities, today recognised by engineers, scientists, financiers, analysts, and many more as the unparalleled source of market data turning the difficult and dry into the digestible and comprehensible.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

“We strive to be the most engaging and pertinent source of energy market information for those seeking an understanding of the industry.”

An ever-expanding collaborative network strives to bring the right information, analytical tools and industry experience to bear on the most important developments in the exciting and fast moving natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil market sectors. Its exhaustive array of contributors numbers some of the most renowned individuals in the industry: Abudi Zein, Terry Virts, Gregory Vesey, Katharine Fraser and John Allen to name but a fraction.

“Our network of energy pros and subject matter experts are employed all along the energy value chain and across major U.S. geographies,” furthers CEO David Braziel, RBN’s second-generation leader. “This is the team that we call on to answer the most difficult questions in energy markets.

“They are integral to our mission of making RBN’s analytics reflective of what’s actually going on,” Braziel effuses, “rather than just what one might glean from the numbers alone. That sort of market intelligence only comes by having boots on the ground – insiders who know the market’s nuances and what pitfalls to watch out for.

“We’re always keen to work with the best and brightest and so we foster those relationships.”

Since its founding, RBN has grown exponentially and its range of offerings has followed suit, but the overall mission has remained constant: to get energy market analytics to a broad audience, and in the coming years and decades RBN’s insights and expertise will be more and more crucial as the energy transition gathers momentum and pace and brings change globally.

“Energy markets are in a huge transition – we know that,” Braziel said of the many opportunities this transformation presents. “I don’t think we can overstate the importance of the decisions that are being taken right now that affect everybody. We are of the opinion that we need a balanced energy portfolio to be able to provide energy security, affordable energy and more. Everybody needs it, and for me personally, that is an important goal for RBN.

“We want to help carry the message, and we want to help people understand energy markets with reliability, relevance and clarity, alongside the camaraderie and personal relationships the energy markets are built on.”