A rancher stands on hilltop overlooking his land in Balmorhea, Texas. Apache Corp., a Houston oil and gas company, moved into the area almost a year ago after they announced they had discovered 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area around the town.
A vulture soars over an Apache Corporation flare and drilling rig north of the Davis Mountains in Balmorhea, Texas. The company recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area.
A sign prohibiting oilfield traffic along county road 320 sits next to a canal full of water from the natural spring at Balmorhea State Park in Balmorhea, Texas. Houston-based Apache Corporation recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area and plans to drill and use hydraulic fracturing on the 350,000 acres surrounding the town. Apache has leased the mineral rights under the town and nearby state park, but has promised not to drill on or under either.
The Bergitta, a crude oil tanker, heads up the Houston Ship Channel in Houston.
A child swings on the playground across from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Chemical Plant in Houston.
Dean Strong, 8, prepares to jump into the crystal clear waters of the worlds largest spring-fed swimming pool in his snorkeling gear at Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, Texas. Houston-based Apache Corporation recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area and plans to drill and use hydraulic fracturing on the 350,000 acres surrounding the park. Apache has leased the mineral rights under the park and town, but has promised not to drill on or under either.
Helmerich & Payne floor hand Jeremy Lewellyan, right, operates controls as they drill for oil and gas on a Diamondback Energy lease outside of Midland, Texas.
Tayson Penny, 5, rocks on a toy horse as his grandfather watches in Tilden, Texas, the county seat of McMullen County. McMullen County, a county of only about 800 residents, had the highest average gross income in the country in 2015 due to a high level of oil and gas operations in the region.
A pumpjack sits outside in Midland, Texas at sunset.
A flare lights up the night sky in Midland, Texas.
Forklift operator Jose Flores drives a pallet of petroleum products through a warehouse in Houston.
Storage tanks can be seen through the living room window of David Gomez in Houston. Gomez has lived across from the business for eight years. "There are days when I'm sitting here and I wonder, which way am I going to run if this thing blows up," Gomez said. "Do I need a gas mask? Would I even make it out alive? I think about it all the time."
Oil rigs drill into the Permian Basin outside of Midland, Texas.
An Apache Corporation drilling rig sits north of the Davis Mountains in Balmorhea, Texas. The company recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area.
Railroad tracks extend toward the horizon during a rainstorm near the Apache Ranch in Van Horn, Texas. Landowner Dan Hughes hopes to drill for and pump as much as 6,000 acre feet of water per year from his property for use in hydraulic fracturing operations.
Railroad tracks extend toward the horizon during a rainstorm near the Apache Ranch in Van Horn, Texas. Landowner Dan Hughes hopes to drill for and pump as much as 6,000 acre feet of water per year from his property for use in hydraulic fracturing operations.
Helmerich & Payne motor man Michael Palmer walks past a section of pipe being drilled into the ground for oil and gas extraction on a Diamondback Energy lease outside of Midland, Texas.
A rancher stands on hilltop overlooking his land in Balmorhea, Texas. Apache Corp., a Houston oil and gas company, moved into the area almost a year ago after they announced they had discovered 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area around the town.
WildHorse Resource Development employees overlook fracking operations outside Caldwell, Texas.
McMullen County Judge James Teal stands for a portrait outside the McMullen County Courthouse in Tilden, Texas. McMullen County had the highest average gross income in the country in 2015 due to a high level of oil and gas operations in the region.
Helmerich & Payne motor man Michael Palmer, left, and floor hand Travis Palmer, right, move equipment as a section of pipe is drilled into the ground for oil and gas extraction on a Diamondback Energy lease outside of Midland, Texas.
A man places his hand on an American flag as he walks into the Balmorhea Grocery in Balmorhea, Texas. Apache Corp., a Houston oil and gas company, moved into the area almost a year ago after they announced they had discovered 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area around the town.
Layne Christensen principal business development engineer Byron Bevers, left, and business developer Tim Patrick walk between retention ponds that will supply water for hydraulic fracturing operations in the Delaware Basin in Pecos, Texas.
A thunderstorm brews over the Davis Mountains outside Balmorhea, Texas. Apache Corp., a Houston oil and gas company, moved into the area almost a year ago after they announced they had discovered 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area around the town.
A thundercloud builds behind Mission Mary, a small adobe chapel established in 1902, Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 near Balmorhea, Texas. Houston-based Apache Corporation recently announced the discovery of an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil and gas in the area and plans to drill and use hydraulic fracturing on the 350,000 acres surrounding the town.
A storm brews over the Hilltop Cemetery in Tilden, Texas, the county seat of McMullen County. McMullen County, a county of only about 800 residents, had the highest average gross income in the country in 2015 due to a high level of oil and gas operations in the region.
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325,000 Acres // Bloomberg