“… so you need to sacrifice your time for them,” said Carlton Brown. “Stand for those who stood for you.” His brother, Kameron, military veteran, is one who stood for all of us. Permian Basin Oil and Gas Magazine recognizes Veterans Day by sharing the story of one of our own. It has been our […]
Spudding In
Recollections of the old “Fort Worth Spudder” and other early-day portable drilling machines. This photo shows what appears to be a stripped-down framework of an old Fort Worth Spudder. See other photos for comparison. by Bobby Weaver Probably the most recognizable imagery related to the oil field is a towering derrick. That was especially true […]
Maker’s Marks
At places like ADS (Air Drilling Solutions) and Henry Pumps—manufacturing kinds of places—the race is to the swift and the battle is to the strong. If, that is, we think of “swift” as streamlined and “strong” as adaptable. By Paul Wiseman How does a Scottish Highlander end up in Midland, Texas, presiding over a company […]
Oilfield Trash: A Personal Reminiscence
by Bobby Weaver During the 1950s and ’60s I was a part of the hard working, hard drinking group of oilfield of hands in the Permian Basin who were generally referred to as “oilfield trash” by outsiders. In those days Odessa had the reputation as the rough and ready working man’s town while Midland, only […]
EAT IT
Thai House is casual and easy. The menu is simple, the staff friendly. There are fried rice dishes, noodle plates, salads, spring and egg rolls, bao, house specials… everything you’d expect to find at a Thai restaurant. I chose the Spicy Curry Chicken and my husband chose the Thai House Special. We chose our amount […]
Charting Performances
Permian Break-Even: As Low as $22 a Barrel During the last three years, companies operating in the Permian Basin have drilled much longer laterals and used substantially more complex well completion design in their newer wells with the aim of reaching higher initial production (IP) rates. Well lateral lengths in the Permian have increased in […]
A Tale of Two Cities
Odessa and Midland deal with volatility together and apart. Chase Beakley It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. You knew that was coming. After rattling off a list of poetic polarities, Dickens concluded that famous opening by saying, “In short, the period was so far like the present period, […]
Making a Statement: Midland’s Energy Tower
It already has its own Wikipedia page, for goodness sakes. If all plans are put in motion, the latest Big Thing to hit the Permian Basin will be the 58-story Energy Tower now slated for downtown Midland. Midland-based developer Energy Related Properties will build its high rise in the heart of downtown Midland, offering more […]
The Century Mark: Midland-Based Fasken Oil and Ranch Celebrates a Momentous Milestone in May
By Paul Wiseman In the early 1900s west Texas was as empty as a whiskey bottle at closing time, and almost as dry. (Some things haven’t changed). What would possess someone in far-off Toronto, Canada, to buy approximately 220,000 acres of the place, sight-unseen, is still somewhat of a mystery. But that is exactly what […]