Tom Kipgen's Page

Anytime.  We just move around alot.  But we're working up around B'ville right now.

Lol, that's great tom.  It turned out very impressive.

My dad forbade me going to the oil field also. Having moved to Borger at the age of 12 in 1926 he knew all the contractors and told them not to hire me.  He had the best of intentions and didn't want me to get hurt or to cause someone else to get hurt and knew I was an accident going someplace to happen.  It almost broke his heart when I changed majors to geology. 

Sounds like we moved around the same areas alot.  I grew up in Borger and had relatives in Pampa. 

I live in Amarillo and do most of my mud logging in Lipscomb county.  I don't know enough about rigs to comment on yours but you take nice photographs.  That is something I know a bit about.  Not much but a bit anyway. Documentary photography is tough.  Have to understand what you are photographing well enough that the photos show what you want shown w/o distractions, not too close or too far away, get the lighting and focus right.  Takes a good eye.  I'm sure others will be looking at your photos to learn about the rigs but I'll be looking at the photographic aspect trying to pick up a few pointers.

Darryl

Hi Tom, 

Nice to be invited to be a friend but curious as to what prompted the invite?  What areas of mutual interest might we have - cable tool rigs?  I sure don't know much about those and I don't build models. My dad did but he only built one and it was much smaller than yours.  However I think he used an old oil field parts catalogue to get the dimensions of all the parts so that it would be correct.  He was a real stickler for details. Absolutely hated cartoons on TV - How is a kid supposed to learn something watching that stupid coyote run off the cliff then hang there in mid-air for a second before starting to fall?! And snap off went the TV.  For him it was reality and right to the best of your ability  or it was nothing.  Somewhere I have a photo of him age 70+ standing beside the rig he and another old timer bought so they could "have some fun".

Darryl

tom I was ask if I would take $25000 for my rig no 4 i said no. to much work.I like it much to give it away .k.g. edington

Hi Tom.  Not sure of the brand of this derrick.  But the rig has a skid slingshot substructure and "A" type derrick. 

Ya its DSI.

Matthew Cox

Hello Tom, nice to meet you. Thank you for your comments on the Ideco rig. It has been a while since I have built one now but I hope to do some more once I am settled into one place. I currently reside in China but am working in Indonesia on a one year contract. Your work is awesome! Looking forward to seeing some more in the future.

Darrell

Tom,

If I remember correctly, it's about 5 miles east on 33, and back in south several miles, but it's been about 2 years ago.  As I recall they are on private land, but very close to the county road.  Truth of the matter, I think I was lost when I found them, lol.