Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 19 - 29

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Thursday, October 19, to 29

Rahlee in the box

Things are routine day after day, there are dump trailers hauling out drilling’s, stinky stuff with a  petroleum smell coming from the material inside the trailer. Some shift change people and other daily visitors. Night traffic is slow and we are now getting different animals coming around as night comes on and even hanging around the generator for the heat coming off the radiator. There is no attempt to try and go to the gate, that is good for us. There are water trucks and bulk material trailers, material for the “Drilling Mud”.

We are happy with the shopping as these stores are the super Walmart and H E B Plus stores that have a large selection available not the mini supers (old Walmarts with only a limited grocery section. It is a twenty-one mile trip with the first four and a half miles dirt road.

Young Wildabeast

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 12 - 18

Buster’s Gate, Ladero, TX - Thursday, October 12, 2017
Morning 66 Degrees, Wind W calm, Humidity 77%, cloudy.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity 48%, partly sunny.

Slow traffic morning workers are just busy in at the well. We are not having a lot of “sales” vehicles showing up to sell their company’s services. Other well drilling sites there was a continus flow of vehicles coming in and trying to sell the company something. Some it was almost no “pitch time” as most of the time they were on site was spent driving in to the “company trailer” and returning back to the gate.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Friday, October 13, 2017
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind S at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 100%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 92 Degrees, Wind SSW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 51%, partly sunny.

Much slower day today other than the daily shift change vehicles in and out water tankers bringing in liquid for the drilling Mud. They are now hauling out drilling spoils so there are large dump trucks hauling that off site. Those trucks are emitting an oder, they do not smell nice.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Monday, October 16, 2017
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind NNW at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 64%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 78 Degrees, Wind NNW at 11 to 21 Mph, Humidity 29%, partly sunny.

Gifted with BBQ from McBee’s in Pleasanton, a vendor catered meals to the crew here at the well site and on the way out we were given BBQ brisket dinners, nice treat. Meant more as we know the McBee’s BBQ from Pleasanton and Jourdenton, Texas.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Morning 54 Degrees, Wind WNW at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 84%, sunny.
Afternoon 82 Degrees, Wind NNE at 3 to 7 Mph, Humidity 26%, partly sunny.

Dall Ram Goat alert, mid morning a truck comes to go out the gate with this goat following it. During the rig move in days I was leaving the gates open during the daylight hours. After the rig move was complete I have been closing the gates after every vehicle. Actually only opening only one gate unless a tractor trailer came in I was opening two gates. The latching part was not aligning properly so I was using a rope to  keep the gate closed as it wanted to swing open. No the goat arrived and was in the gate area for more than three hours wandering the area around Buster and the generator trailer and walked up the roads but continued “looking” to make an exit. He was looking out to the dirt road up and down the fence line. He finally went up the road on Buster’s passenger side.

Latter snail mail arrived with our coordinator. I comented about the goat hanging here at the gate attempting to exit. With the gate not latching it was a problem and he called for a maintenance company to adjust the gate.

I spent most of the evening sorting thru our mail delivery, priority checks. We had two refund checks and payments from our Northrup Grumman insurance that refunds my payments to medicare supplemental insurance and the prescription plan for me.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Morning 60 Degrees, Wind SE at 1 to 2 Mph, Humidity 92%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind SE at 6 to 12 Mph, Humidity 32%, mostly sunny.

Road on Buster's passengers side

Continued sorting thru the mail delivery today. Late afternoon maintenance arrived and got the gate adjustment that was all. I was also looking for them to have a welder and weld the gate pin to the other gate. We are making do until I go shopping getting some worm clamps that I can clamp the pin to the other gate. In some way every gate site has d orignal operation unique to that location. Here I was happy that first Saturday when the welder came and installed the expanded metal to the cattle guard to allow safe walking to the gate latch. And even more happy he installed a pin to keep one gate in position when the other gate opened. At the time I did not realize he put the pin on the wrong gate. As gate people we want the gates to open in as the vehicles pull up looking for access to the well site. If they open out the vehicle has to backup for the gate to open. The way the gate latch here works the right gate (coming in) has to open first or you have to move that for the lock plate to pass behind the right gate. Most vehicles arriving at the gate only need one gate to enter.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Oct 7 - 11

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX -  Saturday, October 7, 2017
Morning 73 Degrees, Wind SE at 1 to 3 Mph, Humidity 95%, partly sunny.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 13 Mph, Humidity 49%, mostly sunny.

Well the mmorning came and went with only a few pickup trucks nothing large until almost noon when the two skid trailers came thru the gate. Latter in the afternoon housing trailers and a couple of rig loads came in the gate.

Expanded metal walkway

During the morning a welder came and installed expanded metal on top of the cattle guard to allow us to walk there safely. Stepping on the pipes to on latch the gate is not very safe as we are also holding a I Pad in one hand. He also welded a pin to pin that gate open or closed, it will not blow in the wind. The pin will drop down thru the expanded metal walkway to hold the gate closed. I talked to the coordinator about stopping by the Home Depot for some wood for me when he come to deliver our sensor for the gate.  He came and delivered the sensor and wood late when my wife was working.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX -  Sunday, October 8, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind ESE calm, Humidity 88%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 93 Degrees, Wind SSE at 7 to 12 Mph, Humidity 46%, mostly sunny.

Rig parts coming in today one got stuck turning into the gate needing a large forklift to push as he was turning in to the gate. I walked in further to allow the rig tower to clear the turn in thru the gate. Another rig part was following behind that one.

Rig tower coming in 

When I got up this morning my wife said the wood I ordered arrived last night. The delivery made a busy morning for me making a wood deck walk and checking vehicles in and out.


Buster’s Gate, Laredo,, TX - Monday, October 9, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind SSE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 88%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 98 Degrees, Wind SE at 10 to 14 Mph, Humidity 42%, mostly sunny.

The last of the rig parts are here today with water tankers coming in for the “Drilling Mud” along with other chemicles. A crane came in to lift and assist in the assembly of the rig parts. 

Rahlee checking the tape holding the foil in place

Buster’s Gate, Laredo,, TX - Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind ESE at 2 to 4 Mph, Humidity 92%, cloudy.
Afternoon 80 Degrees, Wind N at 13 to 25 Mph, Humidity 53%, partly sunny.

I saw the neighbors for the first time today picture, they are on the ranch across the road from our location. Vehicle traffic is still high with parts and material being brought into the work site. 

neighbor cattle

We have our area setup complete now as I was able to have a roller come to flatten the ruts in our normal walking area. I did have to move most again while the roller packed the ruts in the local area. The decking is laying flat now and when we step off into the dirt there is no stepping into ruts.

Buster’s Gate, Laredo, TX - Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Morning 62 Degrees, Wind N at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 70%, cloudy, light rain.
Afternoon 74 Degrees, Wind NNW at 2 to 5 Mph, Humidity 62%, mostly cloudy.

It is back, the rain, started last night just enough to make mud and stick to our shoes. Well that got me into gear and setup our shoe brush and hoe to scrape and clean mud from our shoes before going inside Buster. Slower work day for me and nights have been easy for my wife. 

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Oct 4 - 6

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Morning 77 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 8 Mph, Humidity 96%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NNE  at 6 to 14 Mph, Humidity 75%, mostly cloudy.

.13 rain today, this is our fourteenth day at this gate (over nine inches of rain so far at this gate) and we have had rain seven days this is not fun.

Packaged inside the canopy case was a cardboard stiffener I pulled that out and put aside. Later my wife said to cut in half and bring it inside Buster for Rahlee to use as a tunnel as he enjoys running into them.

Rahlee in the box

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Thursday, October 5, 2017
Morning 84 Degrees, Wind NNE at 6 to 8 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, mostly sunny.

 We had a nice day, no rain with things drying out. My wife got up before two this afternoon and it is shopping day. I was on the road by two-thirty headed for Laredo
Dollar Tree, Walmart and HEB leaving HEB I stopped at Market Brisket for take home dinner. Not the best we have had by far, not McBees or Pleasanton HEB. We will try some place else next time.

Our flow back crew moved out today so things will slowdown until another job starts inside or they close the gate (release the gate guard).

New Gate

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Friday, October 6, 2017
Morning 75 Degrees, Wind W calm, Humidity 89%, mostly sunny.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, .

Slow morning and about twelve-thirty I got the phone call, gate closed. This is the hardest part, waking your wife during her night saying gate closed, go to work making ready to move Buster. I started outside and she started inside. Picking things up and packing away for the move all thethings around Buster and the outside lights. We loaded something’s into the trailer instead of packing away inside Buster. The coordinator arrived about two-thirty to move the generator trailer. With everything picked up and Buster ready slide outs in and off jacks move out in the road and connect Tan Jan to the tow bar and we are on the road.

Sunrise at our gate

We have another gate and start receiving vehicles tomorrow morning, so it is a thirty one mile trip to the new gate. Mostly west and a little south from the last gate. The last four and a half miles were dirt road that will be difficult in rainy weather.

After evaluating the location I backed Buster into position. I like Buster pointed to the road allowing us to look out the drivers and passengers side windows for vehicles coming to or leaving the gate. I block the large front windshield with insulation helping to keep Buster’s inside cool. With the “stuff” out of the pickup and the generator positioned and powered up, water connected we are into ladero for dinner out and some small shopping. 


 Thought For The Day – I don’t mean to brag, but this puzzle says “2-4 years” and I finished it in three months.

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Oct 1 - 3

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sunday, October 1, 2017
Morning 74 Degrees, Wind NW calm, Humidity 87%, mostly cloudy.
Afternoon 91 Degrees, Wind E at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 47%, partly cloudy.

Not as many water removal trucks today he work over rig was moved out. There were five flatbed trucks that came in to take out the other equipment used with the rig.

Canopy back up

Latter today I tried to straighten the canopy poles and put the canopy back up. I will need some shade to sit outside waiting for vehicles to come to the gate and during the ten to two in the afternoon the shade is needed to see the I pad screen. Other times I turn my back to the sun or use the side of the vehicle for shade. But the ten to two o’clock is the hardest time of the day to see the I Pad screen.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Monday, October 2, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind NE at 2 to 3 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 8 Degrees, Wind  at  to  Mph, Humidity %, partly cloudy.

Water removal truck

Water removal was still the item of the day but they are slowing down, not as frequent. We are still having trouble with our outside lights. The receptacle is a ground fault type and we are running two lines of extension cords. The first is plugged into the bottom and the second is plugged into the top. Trouble shooting I have found the bottom which is running to the light tree is ok by itself. The top I have tried many combinations but the only reliable one is only the bottom extension cord plugged in by itself does not pop the ground fault. I called the coordinator to replace the receptacle.

Buster - Portable A/C - Outside lights

The ground fault receptacle replaced today and both extension cords plugged in and the lights are staying on. The two extension cords are working fine now.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Morning 78 Degrees, Wind NE at 3 to 5 Mph, Humidity 96%, partly cloudy.
Afternoon 90 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 19 Mph, Humidity 57%, mostly cloudy.

It was an ok day until near sundown as a thunder storm moved in from the east dumping a third of an inch of rain in short order followed by light rain. I got the canopy up Sunday evening and had to dump water out of that after the big rain. Yes a couple of trucks arrived during the rain. I waive out the door (so they know I am coming) as I was putting on my rain gear (old warn out rain gear) to go out and check them in. We are still able to receive San Antonio television stations here, (I could switch by why bother and have to do it again when we move to another gate). The noon weather map was showing “weather” coming out of the gulf and swirling east and then to the north, I thought it would not come in as far as where we are located, it did.

The oil company was picking up and moving out water hose (twelve inch wide) that was used during the fracking job that finished just before we arrived at the gate. They have trailers with large spools and roll the hose onto the trailer spools in sections.

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Sep 28 - 30

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Thursday, September 28, 2017
Morning 83 Degrees, Wind NE at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy rain.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 22 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy rain.

Light tree

After daylight and after letting a truck in the gate I turned off the outside light “tree” and closed the gates. Looking to go back into Buster I notices the lights at Buster were off I thought my wife had turned them off. As I opened the door the television was not on, ground fault. The lights connected to Buster popped the ground fault, so I disconnected them and reset the ground fault.

These are little puddles now they were all part of one puddle

More than an inch of rain that ended this morning. Drying is taking hold again slowly. I made a shopping trip to Laredo shopping in a big Walmart Super center and a BIG HEB store and refilled our drinking water.

We had Water removal trucks, after dinner five came in at once and another one a little later. My wife will have then to sign out later. Flow back crew must be working hard getting water seperated ans ready to be taken off site.

Water removal truck leaving the gate

Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Friday, September 29, 2017
Morning 79 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 9 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NNE at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 63%, cloudy.

Slow start to the day and water removal trucks are still the vehicle working the most. Flow back, that is the task under way where the water used in the fracking operation flows back up and is removed. The water is coming back up with the oil and goes thru oil water separator the water is waist and trucked off site for disposal.

Shopping yesterday I purchased another canopy, ten by ten foot, a little smaller than the one we were using. I got that set up and staked down and tied to Buster mirrors
 
Five lo-boy trailers came in today to move out equipment from the site along with the leader in a pickup truck, wait a minute wrong site. They came right back out empty and went north of the interstate exit where the oil company has another well site under construction.

About six the rain came back, it was drying out all day until this and did it come down.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Saturday, September 30, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind N at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 89%, cloudy light rain.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind ENE at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 42%, mostly cloudy.

Other than water removal trucks it was a slow day work wise. Well the canopy did not last one day as the canopy collected too much rain and bent under the weight of the water.

That post should be straight 

My wife got the water off and removed the canopy cover from the frame overnight. I was able to  get the frame closed and down this morning. At least it is not too hot outside. Besides I can sit inside and watch television.




Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Thursday, September 28, 2017
Morning 83 Degrees, Wind NE at 5 to 10 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy rain.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind E at 5 to 22 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy rain.

After daylight and after letting a truck in the gate I turned off the outside light “tree” and closed the gates. Looking to go back into Buster I notices the lights at Buster were off I thought my wife had turned them off. As I opened the door the television was not on, ground fault. The lights connected to Buster popped the ground fault, so I disconnected them and reset the ground fault.

More than an inch of rain that ended this morning. Drying is taking hold again slowly. I made a shopping trip to Ladero shopping in a big Walmart Supercenter and a BIG HEB store and refilled our drinking water.

We had Water removal trucks, after dinner five came in at once and another one a little later. My wife will have then to sign out later. Flow back crew must be working hard getting water seperated ans ready to be taken off site.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Friday, September 29, 2017
Morning 79 Degrees, Wind N at 4 to 9 Mph, Humidity 100%, cloudy.
Afternoon 84 Degrees, Wind NNE at 8 to 10 Mph, Humidity 63%, cloudy.

Slow start to the day and water removal trucks are still the vehicle working the most. Flow back, that is the task under way where the water used in the fracking operation flows back up and is removed. The water is coming back up with the oil and goes thru oil water separator the water is waist and trucked off site for disposal.

Shopping yesterday I purchased another canopy, ten by ten foot, a little smaller than the one we were using. I got that set up and staked down and tied to Buster mirrors
 
Five lo-boy trailers came in today to move out equipment from the site along with the leader in a pickup truck, wait a minute wrong site. They came right back out empty and went north of the interstate exit where the oil company has another well site under construction.

About six the rain came back, it was drying out all day until this and did it come down.


Buster’s Gate, San Roman, TX - Saturday, September 30, 2017
Morning 76 Degrees, Wind N at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 89%, cloudy light rain.
Afternoon 88 Degrees, Wind ENE at 6 to 10 Mph, Humidity 42%, mostly cloudy.

Other than water removal trucks it was a slow day work wise. Well the canopy did not last one day as the canopy collected too much rain and bent under the weight of the water.

My wife got the water off and removed the canopy cover from the frame overnight. I was able to  get the frame closed and down this morning. At least it is not too hot outside. Besides I can sit inside and watch television.

the other bent post