I'm with MrBill on this one. Everyone is selling now, which means the long term investor should be looking at buying or adding to his positions. Trading contrary to the market is extremely difficult, but it's how most of the major players make their money.
Are we headed into recession? Are we already in a recession? Who knows - but the energy sector shouldn't be affected except for the "fear" selling that is going on now. You think Exxon or Schlumberger will lose money if we (the US, not the rest of the quickly growing world) enter into a recession? People still have to drive to work (and now they probably have to drive farther because they can't afford the house that's close to work

) and oil still has to be found.
If anything, I think what's going on in our economy is going to be a perfect excuse for OPEC
not to increase production. That could lead to a wild energy market later.
Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I don't think this will be economic armageddon, especially for energy.
"It is certain that free societies would have no easy time in a future dark age. The rapid return to universal penury will be accomplished by violence and cruelties of a kind now forgotten." - Roberto Vacca, The Coming Dark Age