Comments on: Indie oil hunter strikes 'a screamer'

By: Matt Mais

Matt Mais — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:47:44 +0000

Mark Herndon is exceptional at what he does! Evaluating risk then mitigation of the risk for profit! As a hotshot precision skydiver in the mid/late 80s, with a depressed oil economy, Mark Set his goal; to use his infinite precision energy with his exceptional team skills along wih educational skills and risk management/mitigation training (BASE) coupled with formal training to support his love of Geology. Mark is an asset! period. thats all, period.

Its ironic that a huge portion of the group/people he grouped with are financially "fit".

Mark, why are you always taking "things" two to three levels beyond the norm?

BSBD

Matt Mais

By: Tamara Maschino, Seabrook, tx

Tamara Maschino, Seabrook, tx — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:10:21 +0000

There seems to be a hitch here however, the land the directional drilling paying royalties was purchased from long time Stillwater homeowners and landlords unwillingly and whom did not even know anything about the upcoming wells being drilled. They were not advised of their rights to keep their mineral rights and therefore this has become a rather unfair and ill gotten deal.

By: Jack Beadling, Billings MT

Jack Beadling, Billings MT — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:08:44 +0000

Excellent article, it kept me engaged in events and technology of their effort and the industry. The article kept my full attention, and I found the oil patch industry fascinating. I worked in engineering, developing control schemes the power, chemical, and refinery industries. I think that I would have enjoyed getting involved in the oil patch world.

By: Eugene, Houston, Texas

Eugene, Houston, Texas — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:03:06 +0000

As a 30 year plus oil patch veteran and a Directional Driller, you guys just have no idea what it takes to bend the wellbore from vertical to 90 degrees and also change direction at the same time! But now technology can make this happen in a matter of days or even hours compared to the good ole days of a protractor and a string and a prayer. Good on you fellas and keep on drilling!

By: Doug ,Sidney, NE

Doug ,Sidney, NE — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:30:19 +0000

Bravo!! Good for the little guy. There needs to be more like him or at least he needs to do more of it because of his spirit and experince. Good ol' American know how wins again.

Keep it up.

By: David, North East, Tennessee

David, North East, Tennessee — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:53:54 +0000

God bless 'em. Those guys rock! American ingenuity wins the day again. Forget about bailouts of the big guys – just get out of the way of every day Americans and watch what happens.

By: sullivan

sullivan — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:32:37 +0000

GREAT JOB. I HOPE THE DEADBEAT LIBERALS WILL NOT TAKE HIS PROFITS AND GIVE IT TO THE NO GOOD BASTARDS WHO ARE TO LAZY TO WORK .

By: joe mulder richmond va

joe mulder richmond va — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:36:50 +0000

Gotta love the determination???????
Kudos to the "team".

By: John Wendt, Lubbock, Texas

John Wendt, Lubbock, Texas — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:29:03 +0000

A nice story–and I appreciate a petroleum engineer's assessment that his big strike will fuel America for maybe 30 minutes. Add to that the effects of CO2 from burning that petroleum, and the whole story speaks to me of alternative energy–particularly wind energy.

Not to take away anything from his accomplishment…I'll tell you in a second, if I had a degree in Pet. E. an idea, and an opportunity like that–I'd take it in a heartbeat! But I don't. Guess I'll have to settle for some wind turbines. Nevertheless–CONGRATULATIONS on your achievement!

By: stuart goodwin Wellsboro, Pa.

stuart goodwin Wellsboro, Pa. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:34:00 +0000

great article but i am confused about herndon. He seems smart yet he smokes and drinks caffeine. He will never live long enough to enjoy his work. At the seemingly indestructible age of 47 he will have a hard time making it to 52 without a heart attack.

By: Ron - Warner Robins Georgia

Ron - Warner Robins Georgia — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:21:19 +0000

Lol

I drink your milkshake. Thats funny.

New oil is nice but every car out there is a portable pollution machine. Lets put some money in solar and hydrogen so I can break down water with solar power and use the hydrogen to power my car. That would truly be amazing.

By: Mark Santos, Colorado Springs, CO

Mark Santos, Colorado Springs, CO — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:17:04 +0000

It's true ingenuity at its finest. Great to see the risk and reward of the people doing this. I'm sure some will talk about the amount of money being made by the people behind the project, but I think it is great. Now think about what will happen if Obama is elected and these guys are taxed into oblivion. We need these people to have the freedom to go out and find these big paydays.

By: Gary, Boston

Gary, Boston — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:32:00 +0000

So great to see new oil in America!

By: Ralph Lewis, Houston,TX

Ralph Lewis, Houston,TX — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:40:36 +0000

God love this guy. This is the kind of guts, determination and brains that distinguishes American entreprenurialism from all else. Fact is, there's a lot more oil out there than most people think. As an oil-patch guy myself with 30 years in the business, I am very grateful to see this story told.

By: Steve J., Newnan, GA

Steve J., Newnan, GA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:34:48 +0000

Great story.

Every business professor should use this story as an example of what can be accomplished in a free market economy.

By: Jim, Los Alamos, NM

Jim, Los Alamos, NM — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:15:43 +0000

Sweet and well told

By: Mike Rusk, Tulsa, Ok

Mike Rusk, Tulsa, Ok — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:20:40 +0000

The idea of horizontal drilling is not new. In the late 1980s I made several drawings for my father, Joe Rusk of Geotech of Tulsa, proposing horizontal drilling for oil. Another geologist at the time claimed that he had already done it and we had in hand a video of drilling in the Soviet Union in which they were horizontal drilling as early as the late 1970s. Its a great concept but its been around awhile.
Mike Rusk
Tulsa, Ok

By: Peter Weiske Sydney Australia

Peter Weiske Sydney Australia — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:08:59 +0000

Anyone with a brain would see the heart in the story. Inspiring endeavours and new ways of reaching reserves give rise to the next level of solutions. So I say well done and hooray. Go America you good thing!!

By: Nate, Seattle, WA

Nate, Seattle, WA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:47:14 +0000

Yes, what America does best, indeed! Find more ways to keep polluting as fast as possible, and pat ourselves on the back for doing so. Something to really be proud of …

Our country has turned into a Simpsons episode.

By: Jon, Slidell, LA

Jon, Slidell, LA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:10:17 +0000

Excellent article! I've worked a lifetime in the oil and gas industry, and while the author DID mis-apply some of the terminology and jargot, he did a superb job of reporting on the thrill of the search…