Derrick May

Derrick May

Derrick May, CEO of Optimum Energy Partners, brings over 17 years of hands-on oil and gas experience across private equity, investment banking, and company management. Having worked on both the buy and sell sides of energy deals, he offers investors practical insight into how energy businesses are built, valued, and transacted, helping those looking to invest in energy better understand capital, opportunities, and value creation.

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Areas of Expertise

Foundational Oil and GasInvestment StrategiesEnergy InvestmentPartnershipsCrude OilNatural GasIndustry Trends

More From Author

Shale Revolution: Why Today’s Oil Boom Looks Nothing Like Rockefeller’s Era

Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling rewrote U.S. oil production. See why the modern shale boom looks nothing like Rockefeller's centralized empire.

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Shale Revolution: Why Today’s Oil Boom Looks Nothing Like Rockefeller’s Era

John D. Rockefeller's Vertical Integration: Does It Still Work Today?

Discover how Rockefeller's vertical integration model built Standard Oil's empire and whether ExxonMobil's modern approach still delivers a competitive edge.

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John D. Rockefeller's Vertical Integration: Does It Still Work Today?

Midstream Infrastructure as a Competitive Moat in U.S. Energy

Midstream infrastructure, like pipelines and storage, creates pricing power and stability. See why it remains a Rockefeller-style competitive moat today.

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Midstream Infrastructure as a Competitive Moat in U.S. Energy

Capital Allocation in Oil and Gas: Then vs. Now

I break down how Rockefeller reinvested with discipline and what today's oil and gas firms get right or wrong with dividends, buybacks, and exploration.

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Capital Allocation in Oil and Gas: Then vs. Now

What Oil and Gas Investors Can Learn From Abraham Lincoln

Learn how Abraham Lincoln’s values of honesty and integrity offer timeless lessons for oil and gas investors in managing risk and building trust.

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What Oil and Gas Investors Can Learn From Abraham Lincoln