Glad to help, Freddy. I worked in Canadon Seco from mid-1959 to mid-1961 for Petro-Tech Argentina, an affiliate of Lane-Wells. I was in the second wave of expats. I ran electric logs and sidewall cores initially then induction logs and cores. I had a three-man crew of two Spaniards (Francisco de la Torre (ex-Schlumberger, hoistman), Pedro —, and an Argentine. Wilfrid — (an industrial school graduate)). The wireline supervisor was Frank Byrd. Don Stone, Sam McInnis, Jim Bennett (later wireline manager when Byrd went home), Glenn Trimble (who replaced me), Tony Bright, Dick Wiggins, Bill Pilant, Leonard Humphrey, and Boots Walker were other wireline operators. Mel Cummings was the electronics man. John Blocker was Comodoro Rivadavia manager, responsible for wireline and completion rigs. Ray Dickeson joined from Venezuela in some managerial capacity. Ray Hancock was the president of Petro-Tech Argentina in Buenos Aires. Mr Coles, an elderly Englishman, ran the warehouse. Larry — was the chief auto mechanic. Arnie (Ormiga Negra) —, a Dane, was the iron-ass office manager.

The Argentine rigmen were generally from the northern provinces like Tucuman, Corrientes. We also had Chileans. They lived in a separate barracks four to a room with two bunk beds.

Initially, the wireline trucks were dual purpose for logging and gun perforating. As work increased, we had trucks just for logging and trucks just for perforating.

At first the mess hall operation operated by an Argentine couple who insisted on oregano in all the food. The mess hall was then contracted to Universal Services; John Masyk was the manger. When the contract expired it wasn’t renewed. Instead, an ex-pat American was hired by Petro-Tech. Food quality went to hell, and since it was all we had to keep morale up (no rec hall yet), he was finally fired and Masyk brought back.

When I arrived, the first wave had just moved into the new barracks, having spent six months doubling up in 35 ft, single wide trailers.

The first induction tools were junk. The YPF geologists insisted on having the longest possible sidewall cores, not for analysis but to be easier to break in half looking for shows or odor. To accommodate them we increased the amount of explosive which led to the coreguns cracking. The igniters arrived from States by boat and were so corroded we had to rebuild them.

There were four YPF geologists (Dr Zambrano, Dr Filardo, Dr Ugarte and Dr Zucal), covering rigs for Southeastern Drilling (later SEDCO), Transworld (Kerr McGee), and Saipem (ENI.), We ran e-logs and sidewalls faster than Schlumberger and were able to take some Saipem work away from them. Southeastern had a 1000 well contract with YPF, Transworld 500(?) and Saipem (250?).

Over time I helped Dr Filardo translate MRJ Wyllie’s book on electric logging to Spanish (“Castellano”).

Petro-Tech also had a contract with YPF to operate completion rigs (Ideco H-40). Ex-pat toolpushers were hired by Petro-Tech to work 12-hour shifts.

Dowell shared the camp with Petro-Tech.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Hi Stuart, I found interesting that you worked for Lane-Wells at that time. I worked in Canadon Seco, Argentina, in 1994 to 1997 for Dresser Atlas and then Western Atlas. Do you remember what year/s you worked in Canadon Seco and if you were working in wireline at that time?, if so, any other names that you can recall?. I’m very interested in gathering information about the first years of the company in Argentina. Thanks.

Thanks your your post – good luck in the North Dakota oil patch.

Thanks your your post – good luck in the North Dakota oil patch.