I had purchased NADL betting that a deal with Russia’s Rosneft would come to fruition in the fourth quarter. However, oil prices and sanctions have clearly left Rosneft thinking it best to delay the transaction. Leaving me holding a very rough (albeit technically competent) operation.

NADL is no good on its own. Deep sea extraction in this environment is terrible, given the price of oil. The company itself is debt burdened. The only thing that made NADL sweet was Rosneft buying up such a large part of the company with assets and cash – the buying price was something akin to $9 a share, or more.

I bought NADL because the deal was sweet and would have completely changed the calculus for holding investors.

I bought the deal. Not promises of the deal.

I’m not waiting around for another eight months praying the Russians make good on their world. The word of a Russian is worth dick to me.

15% loss on a full position cost me 1.5% net. It will get rolled into tax season. Otherwise, my positions are doing well. We’ll see if they keep it up.

I upped my stake in CCJ, placing an additional 5% of my account in shares, for $17.30.

I added more HCLP for $44.48. Turmoil continues to roll through the oil and gas sector, and weak hands get strewn about.

As the saying goes, you can’t make an omelet without scrambling a few eggs.

I deployed 2.5% of my account to buy BAS at $12.61.

I put another 2% of my account into HCLP for $47.18.

I put another 3% of my account into VOC for $9.83.

Small margin balance. I am not just commenting when I say I am betting on oil. What we are experience in the oil market is not at all unusual. What is unusual is the sheer lengths that people have taken to sell oil stocks, with almost no evidence, other than a little correction in oil prices, that they are right.

I sold off some of my NADL position for $5.96. I had added these shares on 10/15 for $5.43. This locks in a quick 9.8% gain on a small position sizing. It brings my cash position to 5%.

I’m sitting pretty here. So far, I dodged sizable losses by going to 45% cash in August. I also bought what looks like it could be the bottom in the oil and gas space, on margin to 115% of my account. I’ve since sold this bounce down to a 95% long position.

Plenty of my recent purchases are underwater, but I have a healthy profit margin baked into many of them as a whole. I also am closing back in on 10% gains for the year again with lots of room from the highs.

My expectation remains for more volatility and a small pullback ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets labeled a stock market crash after everything – that fits well with the frequency of market crashes in the US (albeit resting on a small data sample).

As for the oil and gas sector (of which I have a majority of my assets invested at this time) I think we’re near the end of the correction with perhaps room for one last shakeout.

If we crash lower, I will consider adding on margin again. But it will be a slow decision given I am basically fully invested.

I couldn’t bring myself to sell all the way to 20% cash. The waterfall left too many of my purchases underwater still and the hope of follow through pins me to my seat.

But I took quick profits in HCLP, VOC, BAS, and SXCP (I still own all four names, I just pared down sizing) ranging from 5-12%, and then I completely sold my BTU position for a 22% loss. That will lower the tax bill. I like BTU but it’s time to start thinking of April.

Despite having little cash, this lowers my risk profile substantially. The margin was worth it and if the oil and gas space has any sort of meaningful follow through, I’ll be back at new highs by Thanksgiving.

Gobble gobble.