Dear HCN,
As someone with a great
interest in energy issues I greatly enjoyed Randy Udall’s article,
“We Are the Oil Tribe” (HCN, 11/19/01: We are the Oil Tribe). One
fact that was presented is definitely incorrect; the number of rigs
drilling in the U.S. According to the Baker Hughes monthly rig
count (the industry’s common standard), there were 1,278 rigs, on
average, turning in the U.S. in the month of July (the last month
that I have data for); 157 of these were offshore and 13 were in
Alaska. I only mention this because this kind of error is just what
some of us oilfield trash would jump on to prove that the
tree-huggin’ writer doesn’t know the facts. Also, as a directional
driller who has worked around the world for many years, I think at
least some people in the oil patch are getting better in relation
to the environment.
Additionally, an article
written about a year ago in HCN stated that
directional drilling is a technique not used in the Rocky Mountain
region: Wrong.
Mr. Udall, your take on our being
the Oil Tribe is brilliant. With your permission, I may use it on
some of my drilling buddies. Keep up the good
work.
Artie Rothman
Carbondale, Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Oil field essay’s errors and delights.
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