DAVID LAWLER AND THE QUEST FOR THE NEW FUTURE

Brothers David and Doug Lawler are not twins, but their careers have run on twin paths.

- MARK A. STANSBERRY AND REBECCA PONTON

With the technological developments in the energy industry, those may be digital twin paths in the future.

Throughout history, going as far back as Biblical times, there are well-known instances of the competitive nature of brothers: Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his eleven brothers. While that competitiveness plays out in various sporting events from college football (they’ve been called the Peyton and Eli Manning of energy) to an off-road racing team, by all appearances, the Lawler brothers seem to be working in tandem to lead the energy industry into a new era.

In January 2023, older brother, Doug, 57, assumed the role of president and CEO of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources. In late 2023, after accomplishing his mission of building a world class U.S. shale company for bp in just nine years, younger brother David, 56, decided to step down from his role as CEO of bpx Energy in search of the next great opportunity within the energy sector.

“bpx is easily now one of the very top businesses for bp,” Lawler says, “and it’s widely recognized as one of the largest and best performing onshore companies in the United States.”

Having spent the intervening months determining where his leadership skills and business acumen could best be used to guide the industry toward meeting the world’s energy needs and its net zero goals, he hasn’t, as yet, selected that opportunity. “I’m very excited about the energy transition, but I also have a deep love and appreciation for the contribution of the oil and gas industry.”

Rocky Mountain Influences

Growing up in Denver, Colorado, the two brothers were at least subconsciously influenced by one of the industry’s more flamboyant characters in choosing careers in oil and gas, which would later encompass other areas of the energy industry.