This doesn't look like the desert of West Texas, or the White Sands of central New Mexico, or the hills of North Texas...... Yes, I am on the move again. This is the hot, humid, wet country of the Gulf Coast of Texas. The trees are covered with hanging moss and the grass is green. You may be able to see the rig in the back ground between the trees. This is the famous Sugar Valley Field. It was first drilled in the 1940's. The well we rigged up on was drilled in 1948. 2 years before I was born. While I was employed with Chaparral Energy in Oklahoma City, the first and almost only wells that reviewed were the new purchase of the Sugar Valley wells. So I am not a total stranger to this area. This field is about 10 miles east of Bay City, and just out side a little town called Van Vleck. Van Vleck is a neighboring town to Bay city were all the African Americans settled. Sugar Valley is an old farming community. The ground is very rich and fertile. The main crop around is grass sod. I guess it grows fast and tall here. There sure are a lot of cattle also.

We rigged up right next to the Alligator Pond.... We may be eligible for hazardous pay! I hope you can see it in the back ground. We haven't actually seen it yet...but they tell us he is about 7 feet long and hungry.

The guys on the rig are some of my crew. The one in the middle is Billy. He is the Tool Pusher for the rig. To his right is Terry with Smith Tools. He is our fisherman. Yes, we are fishing on this job. A stuck packer at 1700 foot. Terry is a true "Coon Ass". He will talk your leg off. And don't get him started on politics or horses or cattle or the oil patch.... well we try not to get him started. The other fellow is Joe. He is our tong operator. The entire crew are the best and I enjoy working with them.

This another shot of the Gator Pond....... see anything?

Wish you were here.........