It's a dirty Job, but...

After a few conversations and one pointed blog comment, it has come to my attention that the public wants to read about the darker side of the petroleum world. The kind that Gore Vidal muses about while smoking far too many cigarettes at an Amsterdam wormwood cafe. Since I value my readers' opinions, one of whom may be a writer for a timely and well proliferated New York newspaper, I have decided to share some of the oilfield secrets. Gotta feed the monkey, right? We all know what happens if you don't...my have your face ripped off.

Alright, so... There is plenty of oil to go around for many thousands of years...trust me. And OPEC is a conspiracy. Well...maybe not a conspiracy but they are a cartel and do conspire against petroleum importing nations by fixing prices since they control 40% of the world's most precious commodity. In fact, many economists suspect that OPEC is responsible for the United States decline in the international economy. Since 2005, OPEC has slowly been divesting from the US markets thereby weakening the dollar and transferring interest to the Euro.

Also it is a well known fact that OPEC was started in Baghdad in the late 50's and early 1960's after Venezuela approached Iran and other middle eastern countries. Current members include Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Venezuela. No surprise...we don't carry great relationships with many of these countries. Saudi Arabia (worldwide leader in petroleum reserves and production) produces about 11 million barrels of oil per day and the US produces close to 9 million. Unfortunately the United States consumes 21 million barrels of oil per day. Obviously we then have to import oil...making us an importing nation and not an exporting nation thereby excluding us from the ever so powerful Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Gotta feed the monkey...right.

US and OPEC relations have been soured over the years for a number of reasons and a number of oil field workers that I've spoken with believe that last year's price gouging was a direct result of OPEC's desire to see what the markets could sustain. Years ago, former dictator, Saddam Hussein was recorded several times demanding OPEC increase oil prices solely for the profit of OPEC member states. Now that we occupy Iraq...well, we have a slightly better opportunity to contain anti-US lobbies within the international oil market.

Truly, I can't speak in any authority with respect to the international oilfield. Give me a few years. Domestically, I understand that the US citizens employed by energy-interested companies are doing their best to make a profitable and honorable living for themselves and their families. Many of these men and women are 3rd generation oilfield hands. Like the car industry in Detroit, and the coal mines in the Appalachians, the oilfield in the south is a traditional market-- made up of hard working American families purely reaching for security and the American Dream. The oilfield is one place that hires employees based on their performance, grit and stamina; many ex-convicts and high school dropouts find their way into the oilfield and excel making an excellent living while contributing greatly to the US economy. I promise you these workers take pride in what they do.

We are responsible for many of the economic woes in the world but price gouging at the pump is not one of them. We are on the demand end of the market. Our enemies control the supply. The trouble is as we move towards sustainable energies, our enemies will continue to drive up the prices of current energy supplies. Look again at the OPEC nations and see what other exports they produce. Not many. We just better perfect those green solutions because as the Saudi Sheik once said, "The stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones." That is to say change comes with united movements and usually in slow doses. But be not confused, we aren't paying at the pump because we want to...we have to. And when the supply chain is cut off, then we may need to make new friends or find ways to produce more oil.

Keep the peace.
Truly,
rf

Chili Con Dope

Hey there dope fans. It was another brisk day in Arkansas (AR-CANS-ASS)...so I decided to make some of my signature impromptu chili with cornbread. No, no, no that picture to the right is not my famous chili. Though similar in both color and consistency while containing far less minerals and alkalies, that is in fact a photo of pipe dope as described to it's right. Thought y'all should see the real deal.

I must say the chili came out with a kick... a little too spicy at first but after a few bites you just want to eat more. The fellas enjoyed it and it warmed us up today...a perfect meal for the rig. So without further adieu I give you "Remie-Rey's Hot and Spicy Chili of Luck"(TM):
recipe serves 8-10 civilians or 4 oilfield hands

2 lbs, lean ground turkey breast
2 links hot and spicy turkey sausage
1 medium can Hunt's diced tomatoes
5 medium mushrooms
3 stalks fresh celery
2 medium (4 inch) chili peppers
1 medium (hand-sized) onion
1 can chickpeas (10 oz)
1 can pinto beans (10 oz)
1 can black beans (10 oz)
1 can kidney beans (10 oz)
1 can Lima beans (10 oz)
1/4 cup Lea & Perrine's Worcestershire sauce
6-10 oz Guinness
1 tbsp Salt
1 tbsp Pepper
1.5 tbsp minced Garlic
1/2 tbsp Paprika
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
3 tbsp Butter

Begin by slicing and dicing onion, jalapenos (include seeds), mushrooms. Then saute all three in pan until tender with Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and Cajun seasoning. After cutting and quartering turkey sausage combine with sauteed vegetables for about 5 minutes or until brown. Then brown ground turkey meat in same pan or pot.

Once meat is fully cooked, transfer into crock pot. Then combine and stir in pinto beans, Lima beans, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas and diced tomatoes. Slowly stir and add in Guinness until desired consistency is attained. Finally add celery and let cook in crock pot for 4-6 hours. Serve in bowl with dollop of sour cream, corn chips and the classic cornbread and enjoy.

Ya see, working on the rig is just as much Martha Stewart as it is Tony Stewart. Good seeing y'all today, take'r easy, dude.

Running Against the Wind

There was a blistering wind today just northwest of Little Rock, AR-- mostly sunny, about 48 degrees. I decided to go for a run in this easy going land...not too shabby, I stayed cool but the cold air burned my lungs a bit. I wish a camera could capture the entirety of a place like the eye can.

Out in the country I swear the sky is bigger. Your peripheral vision expands. The blacktop rolls on longer and lays amidst the open plains like a smooth streak of paint on a blank canvas. Even the median appears a brighter yellow. Gentle creeks babble by, dozens of birds chirp and glide above as squirrels and crickets rustle within the side thickets.

I know Kelly Clarkson and the latest Emo Punk Rock is suitable for almost any occasion but the next time you find yourself on a wide open road near some cows and picket fences turn on the nearest country station and appreciate the simple beauty of our nation's landscape. Keep your eyes open and enjoy as I hang with the plain folk...taking it easy for all us sinners.

"let's blog about our ideals"

Ok Webland, back in action. Day two of the Dope. As you might suspect, I must admit I named it the daily dope purely for the alliteration and I am not certain whether or not I will find the time and inspiration to "blog" daily. However since the inaugural publishing of this here blog the crude oil commodity has risen in value by more than 30 cents.

No doubt my many fans tuned in to read "The Daily Dope" thereby finding great confidence in the oil market knowing a man like myself is ever-present working diligently to supply America with energy. So if I must...for the oil industry, for our struggling economy, for the chicks and for America I will not tire and even when uninspired I will venture to blog each day.

Today is, in fact, a good example of my lack of inspiration. Had a pretty calm last 24 hours...we changed a drill bit, I went to the waffle house and saw it's rather filthy standing and went to McDonald's instead for a sausage egg McMuffin because I haven't had one in about 8 years and that's the only other breakfast establishment Morrilton, Arkansas (pop. 6,500 people; 12,300 alpacas) had.

For more information about North American oil and gas industry please visit http://www.energytomorrow.org. This is a very user friendly site for learning about the oil and gas industry's basic principles, goals and operations. Please comment like a rockstar and send me your questions. I will endeavour to upload interesting and timely photos and for the sake of our energy market...well... Y'all come back now, ya hear.

Have a heck of a day.
-rf

The Rule of 5

All great things come in fives...the high 5, Basketball teams, need to avoid conviction- plead the 5th. The fact that we have 5 fingers is one of our specie's distinguishing characteristics and is very much responsible for our industrial evolution. Even in the oilfield 5 is a pervasive and critical number by which to work and live. The average worker in the oilfield is, in fact, fittingly dubbed a hand.

Just as there are 5 fingers on a hand there are at least 5 hands on a rig at all times.

The Driller: In charge of managing other rig-hands, responsible for the overall mechanical operations of the rig.
Motor Hand: Responsible for maintaining rig motors and pump systems. Also aides in pipe and drilling functions.
Derrick Hand: When tripping (moving pipe in and out of the hole) responsible for working atop the derrick to make pipe connections. Also maintains mud tanks.
Chain Hand: Usually 2 workers per shift that maintain the main rig floor and float around the rig aiding other hands. These guys are the ones you see on TV throwing chains around pipe and getting soaked with mud.

All of these hands are better known as roughnecks...and many are proud to be called oilfield trash. I must note that not everyone in the oilfield is a hand. Most assume that "hand" is a demeaning term and a less than flattering moniker... as if a worker is just another set of hands. By title and position one may be "a hand" but only when a fellow rig worker says, "That boy is a hand..." does it become actualized. To be called a hand is a compliment and everyone out here wants to be known as good hand.

Aside from rig hands there is the Company Man, Tool Pusher, Directional Driller, MWD, Mud Logger/ Mud Engineer. These workers should act like a team to manage the entire drillinig process. But we're all hands. Like any great team and any great hand (the finger kind) when all members are working together, in unison, the job flies by and we can "make some hole."

This is a Hand Job.

Have a great day...and get your mind out of the mud pits.