Having been on this planet seven and a
half decades I am occasionally asked if age brings wisdom. I think not. What it
brings is scars, and the desire not to get anymore. Of course, we simply find
new ways to get scars, physical and mental.
The Patch
What oilfield workers call their
workplace, the patch. The drivers I shuttle haul water. Water comes up with the
oil. Where we operate, most wells are connected to pipelines and the product is
brought to stations. One station our drivers service is receiving 1,000 barrels
an hour. At these stations, the oil and water are separated and our company
hauls the water to a central facility. There the water is further treated and
then injected into deep wells below the area aquifers.
There are dozens of companies doing this
work along with independents.
Other companies specialize in maintaining
equipment at various sites. One company has a 6 am meeting. The meetings don’t
seem to last long. Sorry, can't get the damn picture upright.
Disclaimer
I know little about the oil and gas
business but am learning from the drivers I shuttle. I know more about the
politics surrounding the business. Should one look at these drivers and their
attire and then think they are dumb, they would be wrong. Their language would
cause a mass exodus to safe places, if heard on campuses, but the context would
put many an “intellectual” to shame.
Political
In the last general election Proposition
112, which would have severely hampered the gas and oil extraction industry
went down to defeat with 57% of the voters rejecting it. Promptly the
(P)regressives, having control of both State chambers made it an emergency law
and deep purple Gov. Polis signed it. Drilling outside of a few counties has
stopped and extraction from existing wells is down in many counties.
This
law is a trial lawyers dream as it strips mineral owners of their rights with
not even a semblance of due process or compensation.
All those drilling platforms are readily
transportable to other sites.
Drivers
My sister says the qualifications for
getting and keeping a driving job in the patch is, “Have a CDL, pass a piss
test, and show up consistently”. She may be right. I transport drivers who are
making $80,000+ annual. A rough looking bunch, they don’t have student loans in
default.
They do spend money, dropping $10 -$30
for food, snacks, and drinks. Pictures below were taken at 0430.
Future
I’m having doubts about how long I can do
this job. Age may be biting me in the ass. I certainly enjoy the $361 direct
deposit every Friday. That said, putting the passengers I transport at risk is
something I won’t do.
My other endeavor, the delinquent mortgage
business is picking up. Next Monday will see a trip to Northwest Colorado. That
should give me a chance to visit the museum in Craig, CO
Commute
A dangerous intersection I must cross at
Pecham. CO. Several years ago a co-workers wife was grievously injured there.
While she survived, their lives were altered forever. I remember them every
time I cross.
Time constraints will continue to keep
blogging light. Thank all of you who continue to read my scribbles.
