“I decided to put my work out there and keep myself active, rather than just reposting work from others”, Jamie Vinnels wrote in an email.
Jamie has been compiling subsurface data, maps and well results for some of the exploration hotspots around the world, while he waits for the job market to pick up in the Houston area. He is another example of someone who reaps the benefits of the availability of data released it into the public domain.
I have found it rewarding to help people who have zero geological understanding to get better insights into the companies they invest in.
However, he felt that there was a bit of a lack of geological data integration work to better inform people who do not necessarily have the technical background when they want to invest. “I have found it rewarding to help people who have zero geological understanding to get better insights into the companies they invest in. I have also gained a substantial network of other industry folks and we have formed group messaging chats to discuss various stocks and activities, which has led to further opportunities”, he adds.
Growing a network
“I have grown my network considerably by posting. My work has been featured in some Trove 1st Subsurface videos, and I’ve also had some great feedback from CEOs of companies like Eco Atlantic”, Jamie replied when asked about the role social media plays in the things he does. “I was also a guest presenter on a recent podcast, interviewing Scott Macmillan, the Managing Director of Invictus Energy.”
LinkedIn is not the only platform out there to post about subsurface insights. Twitter has several “E&P” advisors such as @equivestinvest run by Joanna Ponicka. For those who know a little about investing in subsurface opportunities, these can be a valuable resource.
Many people are also active on message boards like Yahoo, Reddit, Stocktwits and Hot Copper. “Discord is somewhat more structured. It focuses more on smaller/junior companies, typically “penny stocks”, where the hope is that initial drilling leads to large rises and then buyouts from mainstream companies”, Jamie adds.
A wide variety
“The quality of advice from social media varies wildly from people who are clearly imposters to those who add significant value in helping people understand their investment”, Jamie continues. “Some companies, like ReconAfrica, are pretty engaged as it provides them free investor relations. Many of their investors are retail investors, as in when any individual buys a stock, not just investment firms.”
“But ultimately, I’d like to move back to the industry as a geoscientist. There is little substitute for access to the data and challenges one works with in an operator environment. Also, whether this way of working is long term financially worth it, is also a matter of debate.”
