Abstract

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with energy financiers in Houston, Texas, this paper explores how experts use a lexicon of models and metrics to conceptualize and construct allegories about future hydrocarbon projects and companies. I show that allegorical narratives built with this lexicon advance a kind of energy ethics – distinguishing what is good and advocating for particular hydrocarbon futures. As the energy industry pivots toward renewables, I conclude that these metrics, models and allegories are coming to bear on new forms of extraction. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the financial and managerial processes on which extractive energy practices are imagined, valued and decided.

摘要

本文借鉴德克萨斯州休斯顿能源金融家的民族志实地调查，探讨专家如何使用模型和指标词典来概念化和构建有关未来碳氢化合物项目和公司的寓言。我表明，用这个词典构建的寓言叙事推进了一种能源伦理——区分什么是好的，并倡导特定的碳氢化合物期货。随着能源行业转向可再生能源，我得出的结论是，这些指标、模型和寓言正在对新的开采形式产生影响。本文有助于更好地理解提取能源实践被想象、重视和决定的财务和管理过程。