So how does one leave the oil field?

The only thing in Orla is the county courthouse, a water tank, and a deputy who pulls over anyone going more than 39mph.

 

I've heard the lease roads in all those areas are horrible. Anything to that? And...probably even worse now with $40 oil. I had a friend around Pecos who said they were 10 mph roads and you couldn't make any money at that speed. Two weeks later they were out of there. Was he just in a bad area?

 

My first time working in that area was at a yard in Pecos, for Plains Marketing. I thought all my hard work had finally paid off and made it to the big time, Plains Marketing. Well, they are an exceptional company no doubt. Best benefits, plenty of opportunity in and out of a truck. This was also to be my first time being paid by the load, not hourly. Your friend is absolutely right, at least from his and my experience. The lease roads were so horrible, I could only manage two loads a day. Now throw in being new to that remote area and being on night shift. I lasted a month and quit. I inquired about transferring to a different area, but was told you must be employed six months before requesting a transfer. Do I regret leaving arguably the best company? Of course I do. At the time I was making less than I did in my first oilfield job hauling water and now living in that God forsaken Pecos area. I quickly realized why the only housing offered by Plains Marketing from what I was told was out of the Pecos yard. I didn't learn my lesson though and a year later was back near Pecos, working for Coastal Plains at their Monahans yard. I faired much better with them, getting paid hourly and keeping up with the yard average of 2-3 loads a day. The leases CP serviced seemed to be in a bit better of areas and were a bit easier to find. We also serviced basically the same 15-20 leases over and over again so you learned the areas relatively quick. Anyway, back to the lease roads. Most of the leases I've been to in that area take a minimum of 30 minutes to reach of rough, blood pressure raising rock roads. I hated every minute of every lease road in that whole region. Coming from the area of South Texas I worked, this was a whole new ball game. Most of the Conoco Phillips leases I worked previously were right next to a main road. If you had to go down a lease road it was a mile or so at the most of nice, well manicured smooth road. Long story short, in my opinion, that area is hell and everything about that area is hell.

 

I appreciate the input. For now, I am holding off on going there even though I don't have many choices.