Oil Country

When one thinks of oil country in Texas, visions of pump jacks lined up for miles on flat, open prairie come to mind. While that scene is repeated all over the Panhandle, there are many other places with different geography that oil is extracted as well. Considering Texas, this is no wonder - one can go from such flat territory into large valleys and bluffs in short order. Such is the case here (as always, click for larger):


This was taken on US83 south of Canadian, TX, overlooking the Washita River valley. Yeah, if you remember your Seventh Cavalry vs the Indians history, this name will ring a bell. That site is east of this spot over the state line into Oklahoma. The valley is dotted with white painted oil storage batteries, which my cell phone camera captured as just tiny dots on the other side of the valley. Amazingly enough, the tanks and walkways that make up these batteries are one of the products I haul and help set up, so I tend to notice these things.



But, most of the batteries are painted in a tan earth tone of some kind - such as the example on the left. So, when one peers across the valley, only the white storage units stand out. When ya realize there are a whole lot more that you are missing, well, at least for me, seems impressive.



Another view off to the east.

The vistas further south in mesquite and scrub oak country seem to be less photogenic to my eyes - all you can see for miles are a bunch of low, scruffy trees that hide everything. You simply can't see the pump jacks and batteries scattered through there, nor do you see the abundant wildlife until they decide to cross a road. However, some of those areas have even greater oil production - a drive through Andrews, TX or Hobbs, NM and your nose will convince you of that idea.

Heh. Smells like money. There - it's oil. Around the Poor Farm - it's manure from feedlots and the distinctive odor of beef processing plants. I'll forgo the obvious BS comments.....