By Colter Hettich, Features Editor
Cholla Petroleum Inc. already has begun on-site construction of the oil rigs that will drill into Hardin-Simmons’ University soil. The pumps will not be on HSU’s main campus, but it will receive a percentage of the profit, nonetheless.
Dave Coffield, HSU director of public relations, said Cholla had done some mapping of the area.
“Based on their knowledge of the area and the success of some pumps just north of our land, they approached us with their proposition,” Coffield said.
Coffield openly stated that HSU “is not going to get rich” from this effort. But with the projected one-innine chances and Cholla’s confidence, the university will take what it can get.
“Usually people don’t drill unless they think their chances will be justified,” Coffield said.
Before 1990, when the Army discontinued its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at HSU, the drilling site hosted the ROTC obstacle course. The land lies just north of the Six White
Horses Center and is surrounded by a line of native mesquite trees.
Once finished drilling, smaller, less obtrusive pumps will replace the now towering rigs. Cholla assured HSU and the community that “the drilling will have a minimal environmental footprint and will be virtually unnoticed by area residents and the university.”
Once finished, Coffield hopes the sight will provide a traditional, West Texas setting for passing observers.
“The whole area is surrounded by mesquite trees, and the horses will be grazing around the pumps,” he said. “You can even still see the bars and poles from the old obstacle course.”
After the Texas Railroad Commission granted permission, Cholla and HSU went to the Abilene City Council. City Council approved their proposition in January 2008 and within a
month, Cholla had already started construction.
The plan is a “win-win” for HSU, Coffield said. With not a penny invested, the university will receive all its earnings as profit. But Hardin-Simmons University will put the money to good use.
According to an HSU Insider post on Jan. 17, HSU President Dr. Craig Turner “indicated that the university will use the proceeds to keep costs down for students.”
