Oil Patch Winter by Windworker
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Description
Farson, Wyoming USA oil field transport in -10 degrees fahrenheit. The drivers of "Ol' Yeller" and his escort get back in their trucks after a stop for coffee and grub. This bulk storage tank will be installed on-site and will probably hold around 80 tons of Barium Sulphate, or Barite, used to maintain drilling fluid "mud" weight from 9 to 17 pounds per gallon. The barite is mixed into a colloidal suspension of Wyoming Bentonite and pumped through the bore hole of an exploratory well to maintain hydrostatic head and counter-balance pore pressure. This is all to eliminate those "gushers" so common in the picture shows of the "old days" in the oil field.
No time for composition here as these guys were in a hurry. I just selected the "snow scene" setting on the Nikon E8800 and snapped with no backup. We waved at each other and they were gone.
Comments (21)
auntietk
I used to work for a foundry supply company as their purchasing manager, and I bought tons and tons of bentonite. I swear, that stuff is good for EVERYTHING! Nice shot of this huge tank. Very cool!
ledwolorz
Excellent shot.
wonderworld
Nice to learn about Bentonite. Very cool shot and love the colors!!
mbz2662
Cool photo! I like the information with the photo too; it completes the picture...
artaddict2
Great shot and nice to read the information. looks like an extremely heavy load, and although these powerful trucks are built for this purpose, made me wonder about how slow this would have to travel ?
tallpindo
My uncle drove gas tractors so my only access to big rigs was a twin PT-6 in a offshore Huey. Colonialism ended in the oil countries and the radicals can't quite understand how guns and olive oil mix. That barium will make excellent enemas.
ontar1
Cool shot and great story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Windworker
artaddict2, one of the reasons there are so many wheels on this rig is to multiply the number of brakes he can use. He'll never know how fast this rig will go, unless he takes it to the Bonneville Salt Flats to get some room. It might take him a mile to accelerate, but he has no problem getting up to the 75 mile per hour interstate highway speed.
durleybeachbum
I use to add a tiny percentage of bentonite to my porcelain recipes for making intricate ceramic scultures. The colloidal particals make it so much easier to use. Thankyou for a fascinating pic and all the info!
beachzz
Wow, this thing is massive, can't imagine being behind the wheel of one. I tried driving a bus once and kept taking out curbs (no pedestrians were hurt in the process!) Nice shot!! Good to see you online again also!!
frankie96
We don't see those here in the Bay Area for sure...and looks as if he has a wide load escort..what a massive rig..thanks also for the information..
Aioros
Good very interesting work.
V8Bluebottle
Very good for a snapshot, nice one.
afugatt
Wonderful shot and excellent educational explanation.
annie5
WOW..this is a great shot! love it! Thanks for the informations :)
kansas
Great shot and very interesting info. Thanks for sharing. I sure would not enjoy that below zero temperatures! :)
mickuk50
very rare to see something that big on uk roads .very interesting info and a great shot
amlondono
Excellent shot , HUGE Tank ! , thanks for the information too ! Ana
Richardphotos
outstanding capture and I hope they are drilling on my mineral rights property in Wyoming
Charberry
My uncle used to drive a gasoline tanker years and years ago. My father was a truck driver and hauled aggregate with his own rig by the time I was a teen. I couldn't tell you how many miles I've ridden in an 18-wheeler. My father hauled vegetables, beet pulp, fruits, and all kinds of stuff through the years. ( I hate beet pulp! Got extremely sick on that smell in 100º + weather in southern California - a day I'll never forget.) ;o) Excellent capture, even if it was on the spur of the moment.
magnus073
Great photo and thanks for the explanation