LAMONT —
The Darling name has become synonymous with oil and gas drilling in and around the area.
The family is involved in nine companies, covering several facets of the oil and gas drilling business, that are operated out of the Dan D Drilling Corporation’s office in Lamont.
Lexy Pierce, secretary and treasurer for the corporation, said the original company began around 1978.
“Dan Darling and his dad Clyde had a water hauling business and decided to start drilling for themselves,” Pierce said.
They began as Darling Drilling Co. and operated one drilling rig.
The company, which now is owned by the son, blossomed and branched out to involve nine areas of production under the corporation umbrella.
The businesses range from the family farm operation to oil supply, production and service companies and stretch across the north central part of the state, specifically including presences in Lamont and Tonkawa.
“Through Darling Oil Corporation we operate around 100 wells. We pump them, repair them and operate them.” Pierce said.
The overall corporation has more than 270 employees that are working on projects.
Pierce said the drilling company has been very busy due to the current oil boom.
“We are running 10 drilling rigs right now,” Pierce said. “Finding someone to drill for is not a problem ... we don’t hardly drill for ourselves anymore.”
The drilling company performs both horizontal and vertical well drilling. Pierce said the drilling company tends to stay within 100 miles of Lamont but has gone as far south as Pauls Valley and as far north as McPherson, Kan.
The company has been able to survive through several oil booms and busts that have occurred throughout the years, mainly due to the different businesses it operates.
“We’ve had ups and downs throughout the 33 years. When we shut our first drilling company down we lived on through production,” Pierce said. “We are hoping this boom lasts a while.”
The company recently has doubled its supply store, bought a new yard in Woodward for its casing crew and purchased five new drilling rigs.
Pierce, along with drilling superintendent Dale Hobbs, have been mainstays with the area company throughout the years.
She said she has been with the company for 33 years.
“When I started, it was just a big cardboard box of receipts and bills. Then I set the books up and have been going ever since,” Pierce said.
Progress 2012
Related Photos
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Darling Drilling Co. started out with one drilling rig and has blossomed and branched out to involve nine areas of production under the corporation umbrella. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)
Discussion
Good times and bad ...
Area oil company uses experience, keeps on flowing
- Progress 2012
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2012 ON THE HORIZON
The News & Eagle puts out an annual progress edition. This year's 2012 On the Horizon focuses on developments now and in the future. The stories in text format are available by scrolling down this page.
Links to pdf format: Economic Development I Health and Wellness I Education I Northwest Oklahoma I Family I Faith I Agriculture and Energy I Community Service
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Community Service
Enid News & Eagle's 2012 On the Horizon edition concludes with the role of community service.
Click HERE for text version of the stories.
Click HERE for pdf version of the edition.
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Chisholm seeks consistency
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A positive interaction
Karen Vanover and A.Z. Callicoat are past volunteers of the year at their respective hospitals, Vanover at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center and Callicoat at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
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Foster Grandparents: The solver of all problems
“It’s something to get up for in the morning." — Foster Grandparent Ella Loggins
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Hear this
Hedges is committed to improving communications skills for those in need in northwest Oklahoma.
Executive Director Carmen Ball said Hedges is the only full-service speech and hearing center in northwest Oklahoma. -
Doing their part for the community
Stephanie Ezzell is active in the community in a number of capacities, including the popular Farmers Market, on the southeast corner of Grand and Garriott.
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Sorting out the service
The curbside recycling business began after Chris Feeney of Oklahoma Employment Securities’ Material Recovery, a recycling venture, repeatedly was asked why the option wasn’t available.
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Learning the language
Volunteers at Emmanuel Baptist Church stepped up to fill that gap with free ESL instruction last January, and now they have hopes of expanding the program to better serve the community.
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Tutoring joy
Each Wednesday after school, church members pick up students — there are 23 in this year’s group — and take them to the church building for a snack, some fun and plenty of homework help.
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