Things are bigger in Texas. Tex Thornton, an early 20th century oil well firefighter in the Lone Star State, strung together enough exploits to become, at least during his era, the biggest name in his daring trade. by Bobby Weaver No oilfield occupation has the aura of romance and danger like that of oil […]
Pipeliners: A Breed Apart
They were known as “the gypsies of the oil patch.” by Bobby Weaver Pipeliners are the most gypsy-like of all oilfield workers. When there is a need for their services they appear like a cloud of locusts and when that need passes they are gone like a puff of smoke. It has been that […]
How the Workforce is Changing, Part 2: Employers Have Changed
By Shanti Terry As the workforce for the oil and gas industry change and adapt over time, employers for the industry are finding that they too have to evolve. According to the experts interviewed for this second look into why today is not your grandfather’s oilfield, some things have stayed the same, but most are […]
Oil Patch Songs from the Permian Basin Part 3
Like Desperados Waiting on a Train Part 3 of 6 by Joe W. Specht The evocative lyric from Guy Clark’s classic song turns out to be, on deeper inspection, a tribute to the oil patch and one of its veterans. Explore this and more gems from the mostly unmined body of work that some call […]
The Oilfield Bible
Editor’s note: The following article by Russ Mabry was written and published more than two decades ago in the Burmass Directory, sister publication to Permian Basin Oil and Gas magazine. We reproduce it here to share the interesting and important background of the Burmass, an indispensible guide to the business resources within the Permian […]
Nitro
by Bobby D. Weaver The oil patch abounds in unforgettable characters. In bygone days the well shooter ranked high on that list and, for all I know, he might still be right up there. It takes an unusual personality to work with nitroglycerine on a daily basis. The steely nerves of those nitro handlers are […]
Worth Celebrating
Public spiritedness–and cowboy hats–are never out of season. June 14 marks Flag Day, the day set aside for commemorating the adoption of the American Flag by the Second Continental Congress on that day in 1777. President Woodrow Wilson established the tradition in 1916. Texan in Transit In the accompanying photo (check out our digital edition, page […]
It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that Swing
We’re casting a “swing vote” for June. WHERE TO EAT: Your regular reviewer, Bobbie Cupell, didn’t write this review, so be forewarned that the Bobbie-type repartee is issing-may. Be that as it may, I know of a great eatery. Anyone lucky enough to find themselves around Abilene at mealtime has a must-go in Casa Herrera. […]
Surface Rights…or, How to Succeed in the Cow Business Without Any Cattle
by Bobby D. Weaver Surface rights are a part of the legal definition of land ownership. In an area where oil is discovered, the oil company leases the mineral rights to the subsurface in order to drill for and produce oil and gas. The surface rights remain with the landowner with the proviso that the […]
The Oil Well Promoter
by Bobby D. Weaver There have always been sharp operators in the oil patch, especially in the early days. There are some who say that they are alive and well in today’s world. But few of them were the match of Henry. Along about the end of World War I, Henry was operating out of […]
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