WorldWide Drilling Resource

Tales from the Field by Jeremy C. Wire Geoconsultants, Inc. Mischievous Cattle When traveling about ranch country for some of our work, we observe cattle grazing in the wide- open spaces, presenting a peaceful scene. However, if a project takes us into a specific ranch property and our crew enters the cattle domain, then mischief involving these same cattle usually follows. If it is a large ranch, we may not see the cattle right away, as they may be grazing on a hillside some distance away. In time, they will usually appear, heading toward us at a slow pace, one by one, or sometimes in small groups with calves trailing behind, trying to catch up. Then they will usually gather around, thinking we may be a source of food, or possibly just curious. However, make a movement toward the group and they will usually scatter to a short distance away, then will slowly assemble again. At this point, some may take to licking our truck, savoring its salty exterior, we guess. If we set out some survey stakes, the serious mischief begins. Either short or tall stakes are apparently considered foreign objects in their minds - an encroachment into their territory - and must be taken down and trampled on. On one project, we planted a short stake firmly in the ground and surrounded it with rocks for good measure, knowing the cattle were around. Once we were some distance away, we saw three or four of them gathered around the stake, kicking the rocks away, rubbing their heads against it, and trampling it down - all within a few minutes. In another instance, we had put some stakes out and painted them orange for visibility. Later in the day, we saw the cattle again, with orange paint all over their ears - evidence they had gotten into mischief and eliminated the stakes while the paint was still wet. In recalling this incident, we wonder what the ranch- er thought about this “decoration” when he saw the cattle the next day! Once, on a drilling project, the con- tractor left a few bags of bentonite drilling mud uncovered beside the road leading to a dri l l pad of l imited size, with no space for materials which were not needed right away. It later rained, and the uncovered bags must have gotten somewhat wet and attracted cattle in the area who apparently sensed this materi- al might be food. The next day, we saw all the bags were opened, trampled on, and scattered about, with most of their con- tent missing. No other animal on the ranch could have done this, it had to be the cattle. We never saw the cattle after- ward, but there must have been some miserable ones over the next several days and probably not inclined to get into any more mischief, at least for a while. Jeremy Jeremy Wire may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com WTR UPCOMING Located at: Oilfield andWaterWell Equipment Please contact Casey Eoff 806-332-3768 (casey@rexmcfadden.com) or Brad Fry with any questions. Auctioneer: Brad Fry - Phone: 806-252-1397 License #12103 Mass Variety of Equipment ~ Inventory Reduction ~ July 24 th , 2018 10:00 am AUCTION 7931 19th Street Lubbock, TX 79407 26 JUNE 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®