More Oil Well History

 

The top photo is an example of a very old oil well drilling rig.  The oil well drilling rig in the bottom picture is a modern one.  Not really a lot of difference between them -- the very first ones from as far back as one hundred years ago were made of wood.  Now they are all metal but the basic design and function has not changed.   Oil was first discovered here in Midland and now they have discovered even more oil deeper in the ground here so the new oil boom is going strong.

There is no unemployment in Midland so if you can't get a job here you either aren't looking or can't pass the pee test.  Even Walmart is paying $15 an hour.  The bad part of the deal is there is not enough housing so what there is -- is very expensive -- an average apartment is over $1700 a month.   People that are living here in the RV park have come from all over the country to work in the oil business.  They might start out at a local business but as soon as they get an oil job the local business is out another employee.  Even the local post office can't keep anyone -- and they used to be considered a top job. 

We are headed to an RV park in western North Dakota that is within a hundred miles of Williston, ND where the other big oil boom is happening.  People will start to think we are looking for oil industry work -- NO WAY!  The guys we see that work in it -- have almost no life.  Work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep--- that's all they have time for but they are raking in the money.  We heard the average salary for people in this park is $6000 a month  - one couple is putting away $10,000 a month (after expenses) so they can pay cash for a house.