Venture will begin drilling two new wells

Published 9:42 am Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Before I get into the column this week, I have some late breaking oil news. Venture Drilling Company has announced two new wells will be drilled here beginning in the next few days. Because the Alabama Gas and Oil Board is closed this week landmark descriptions are not available.

However, one location description is Indigo 30-7 1369FNLS30, T5E, 160 acre spacing NE/4 A30, T3N, R5E with a deep permit depth of 1,600 feet. The other location is Blackstone 14-14 418’FNL & 1041’ S22, T3N, R5E, 160-acre spacing S/2 SW/4 S15 and N/2 NW/4 S22, T3N, R5E.

Pruitt Production also staked a location in Monroe County at Casey 4-8-1 FEL S4, TRN, and R7E with a permit depth of 13,500 feet. Again when the G&O Board reopens next week, I will provide you the exact landmark locations.

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Venture will be seeking its eighth producer in the State Farm-McCullough-Butler Street and Monroe County areas. Pruitt also has two producing units in these same areas.

One other reliable source unofficially tells me another drilling firm has plans to drill wells here with signed leases already in hand. That source says, “Drilling efforts in the Atmore area have only begun.” In other words, there is much more on the horizon. Wouldn’t it be nice to see an industry like this blossom right before our eyes? Can you visualize those processing and separation plants sprouting up offering good jobs and opportunities?

How many of you have Facebook on your Internet. I just joined it, but I really don’t know how to “work it.”

I was just thinking what a nice medium this would be for selling, perhaps, some of your unwanted items or “yard sale type items.” I don’t know if it is permissible, but it seems to be the ideal place to move some of those items you don’t need any more.

As far as that goes I suppose I could use my column to sell items. But, again, I feel that would be unfair to promote my personal goods that would normally be displayed at a yard sale. If I were allowed to use these outlets I would air two nice items that I don’t need any more. One is a bath lift that elevates you up and down in the bathtub while you are taking a bath. I am hoping my wife buys me a walk-in tub where I can comfortably step right in and sit down for a relaxing bath.

Another item is my computer to TV converter box that allows me to watch online movies, TV shows, sports and news on my den TV. Google TV, which I am buying, comes out next week, so I will not need this item any more. Boy, If I could try to sell these two almost new pieces of merchandise I would say they could be bought below half what I paid for them. But, then again, I know I shouldn’t try to do this in my column or on Face book. If I could, that’s what I would try to peddle.

Speaking of Face book the more I read it I find myself laughing out loud at some of the claims and statements, particular from a few whom I know. They should change the mane of this Web site to “Ego book.” I find many like to “toot their horn,” so to speak.

I read a post by one who claims he holds a college degree, but I know for a fact he never even attended college. Another uses dozens of profile photos, apparently, in an effort for you to determine which one reflects the best facial profile.

Well, of course, these things are really none of my business and I should not make light of them. Everyone must do his or her own thing.” But, I still have to giggle about some self-esteem and egos. I will add Facebook is good for parents and grandparents to communicate with children and grandchildren living away. One thing I don’t understand about this Web site is how in the world do you play that farm game, which includes farm animals, plows, farmland, farm tools, seeds, etc.? It must be interesting because I see so many playing it. When I first got on Facebook a friend sent me a request for a short-square shovel. I answered her back and told her I had a long handle shovel-will that do?

For all of us who use Blue Cross/Blue Shield get ready for an increase in your monthly premiums next year.

Mary Orndorff of the “Birmingham News” wrote in a release Monday that increases would be one or two percent. She stated that President Obama’s U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebellius said” simply stated, we will not stand idly by as insurers blame their premium hikes and increased profits on the requirement that they provide consumers with basic protection.”

Orndorff went on to say there could be even slighter higher increases and quoted related information from Alabama BC/BS spokeswoman Koko Makin. Due to the lengthy report I did not use the entire release, but it can found in al.com dated Sept. 20, 2010 at 6:30 a.m.

Now, you know I rarely dabble in politics in this column, but I am wondering if this price increase will go through following the upcoming election if a goodly number of Obama’s most avid supporters are voted out of office. Some writers say there will be several announced programs revisited if a whole new group of conservative legislators are voted in. Again, I am not a politician; I guess you could say, “I am just supposing.”

And, for the lady who became very upset at me last week for writing about Nick Saban and the University of Alabama, I promise to write an entire column on the Auburn coach and the Auburn football team. I really don’t know why she was so furious toward me about that column. I pull for both schools to win every week, except for one game. I hope she finds satisfaction this week when the Tigers take on a tough conference opponent. I’ll certainly be rooting them on to victory. Already some writers are saying the SEC is weaker this year and there seems to be push by the media to glorify the Big Ten Conference.

So, we need Auburn, Alabama and all the conference teams to have great seasons. If not we may, indeed, fall into that image of a weak conference.

More next week.

“…yes it always whispers to me…those days of long ago…”

Lowell McGill is a historical columnist for The Atmore Advance. He can be reached at exam@frontiernet.net

This week Lowell's column talks about oil drilling.|File Photo