We interns are cursed

Day two in the shop makes me think we interns have some kind of hex on us, at least when we're in the yard. At least me. We got split up today and I worked with Matt on rebuilding a slinger (the thing that mixes the sand and water for frack jobs) and NOTHING went the way it was supposed to. First of all people needed the crane so we sat around waiting for it for most of the day. Secondly, when we got things taken apart we had to take about another one to trade the sand plates. When we did, the water plate didn't match up with the new sand plate which has never happened before in the shop. Literally everyone was stumped by this. Once we got ANOTHER water plate and put it on, the reworked bottom and middle parts didn't fit together correctly. What should have taken an hour or an hour and a half took ALL DAY LONG and wasn't even done at the end of the day because it had to be torn down, scrapped out and re-done by the night shift. Matt was ticked. Fortunately I still learned a ton about slingers and in spite of the troubles I think I could probably rework one if I had to (under close supervision of course...). I know the difference between a road-side and a curb-side slinger (the direction of rotation of the water...and how that slurry will get to it's next destination on the truck due to it's orientation) and I know that you never re-use a slinger bolt or the bolts that connect the plates. I also know that the top, middle, and bottom parts of the slinger can be re-worked once and then they have to be scrapped. I told him I am nothing if not a good listener.

I realize I haven't put up pictures in a while so let's have a moment to go back and appreciate some of my past adventures as well as some more current ones, in photos...

The bulk plant team!

My first job! A surface (cement) job on a VERY small well. Shawn's crew--you'll note that I rode to the site in the truck with the tanks (at right) and the other truck mixes and pumps the cement (rear of said truck at left). Shawn's pick-up monitors it all!

I don't know why but it refuses to let me delete this duplicate photo of Shawn... sorry.

Shawn (unaware I am photographing him) as the cement is pumped. In the background, Jay the pump operator makes the magic happen.

My bed for my first two jobs... yep... the cab.

This is Kevin on my second job. He's fun. Not a fan of the camera but he's fun.

On that second job we found a HUGE bug. A bug of EPIC PROPORTIONS!!! Orange glove for reference and Anjelica in the background for added drama.

That's a slinger...kind of. It's 1/2 taken apart. The things that look like giant mints are the water plates. The white (new) one is bolted to the sand plate.

This is Matt... he's attaching the water plate. He's a little frustrated by now.

This is Adam putting the middle and bottom parts together...or trying. They don't fit. He's irritated because he's not the first to try and it still isn't working.

That's the silicone job I did... lots of silicone! I was told to "annihilate" that thing with the caulking gun. Mission accomplished.

Today I was a mechanic!

Today was an eleven hour work day as a mechanic. I know you're getting jealous but hold on there sport, we spent most of our day standing around. Pretty par for the course this summer. Our number one responsibility is to learn so that means watch people do stuff and hope they let you help. Luckily today the standing around was due to the fact that we were waiting on people to get us stuff we needed. We actually got to be fairly useful. We were under the "watchful" eye of Chris today with some aid from (mouthy) Adam. Chris, it turns out, isn't even old enough to legally consume alcohol (that you can't buy in Conway) but Adam likes him anyway. Adam has been reported to the ethics hotline and written up some 19 (I think) times since January for improper conduct (saying offensive or sexual things). Granted most of the time people know him and know that he's kidding but sometimes new people hear him say things and take him seriously. They seem like alright guys. ANYWAY....

Today we helped rebuild a C pump and after lunch we took out and replaced the bearings (NOT ball bearings) in a power end (the part of the pump truck that helps create pressure...it's like the engine of the pump...that's as best as I can describe it considering how I understand it). C pumps usually go down because the rubber rings in them need to be replaced so that's really all that is involved in fixing them. It didn't take long. From 1 to 6:30 we dealt with the bearings. These bearings are just sort of cuff things that fit around the drive shaft parts and create a smooth surface for them. You have to get in there and unbolt the things that go around them and it's very greasy in there. Also have to sand the drive shaft part some to make sure that it's completely smooth. Friction is the enemy. Once you've taken all of this stuff apart, the fun begins when you have to try to put it back together. It's very greasy. Also in case you've never looked inside a power end, the grease in those things is not only plentiful but it reeks. Seriously. It's bad. Like make you think about vomiting bad. At least I think so.

Tomorrow is another day in the shop but not sure who they'll have "teach" us tomorrow since Chris is going to be on days off. Maybe Adam... or someone new. We shall see. Thursday we work with a guy who takes care of the iron. Not sure what that will mean for us but again, we shall see.