All of our new staff haven't really ever seen an oil well....or a gas plant. I think I've seen a lot of oil wells - I grew up around luling where there are TONS of them, and we had some on the Lippe Family land. (too bad those puppy's didn't produce a LOT of oil!) So we planned a visit....and about 30 of our staff went with me to some of our oil fields in West Texas. One of my favorite things about visiting Midland (and the surrounding oil fields) are the GREAT sunsets and sunrises. I captured a great picture above...which totally shows the essence. The best part about it was that was taken in the parking lot just outside our hotel. like I was standing in the parking lot next to the building. LOVE IT.
Everyone flew in and we headed out to the field. The best part about the trip are these -- EVERYWHERE.
Our company takes safety VERY seriously....and before we went out our Health Environment and Safety crew came to give us a presentation. It was classic to see everyone's faces. They gave the "dooms day" scenarios and it was so funny to watch these kiddos as they were listening and then would get this look of fear and look at me and I could tell they were thinking "what in the hell am I getting myself into?!?!?". Awesome. But there are dangers and we just wanted everyone to know. Best thing to know - where are the wind socks and how to read them -- look at which way the wind is blowing and run upwind - or opposite the way the end of the windsock is blowing!
The best thing is that I learned a TON. One of my favorite staff drove us over and he gave us a personalized tour - he would point out what was going on and then would quiz us on all the wells we passed and what kind they were. I learned SO very much. Below - a pump jack. The bigger the pumping unit (this one was HUGE) the more fluid it handles. If it gets to be a BIG well, they put an ESP on it (which doesn't have this big pumping unit and the "well" is only about 3 feet off the ground).
Just for people perspective -- that fence is right around my head. Here are some of my favorite girls - EE and JD on our trip. Yes, we are wearing hard hats and safety glasses. We look hot - yes, we know! ha, ha.
After the field tour where we showed everyone the different types of wells, tank batteries and satellite facilities, we went to one of the Company's CO2 recovery plants. It was so cool...I've been around the refineries before, but this was a little different. And they did such a great job teaching us how it works!
Here is everyone getting a tour from one of the plant operators...Notice all the pipes....
Here is what it looks like if you look up. And the plant operators have to know what is running through EVERY pipe on the property. WOW.
And one of the great things about this trip was I was able to get to know a lot about my staff better -- and a bunch of the younger staff in other groups. Here are three of my favorites....they are in a different group, but one CB on the far right is actually coming to my group!! I'm so excited - she is so fun to have around. And the three of them are just a blast to get to hang out with!
It was an absolutely fabulous week....besides the tour, we had a 10 hour meeting with our finance group and got a lot accomplished and then I got to spend a lot more time with my staff. I love being up there - they are just so real and helpful and just make me love my job.
I also loved getting to work out at one of their gyms there...it CRACKED ME UP. There was an excercise class one morning - and I almost fell off the elliptical. I swear, it was like an uncoordinated persons convention. It was SO great to watch - like a train wreck in front of my eyes! But I had a great week...and am excited that I get to go back a little more often to spend some more time with them!
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