That Actually Happened?

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Titled Landman, this series, orchestrated by Taylor Sheridan and podcast host Christian Wallace, focuses on the personal and professional life of Tommy Norris (played by Billy Bob Thornton). As a crisis manager for M-Tex Oil, a fictitious Texas oil company, Tommy is responsible for identifying and acquiring potential drilling sites. Furthermore, he oversees the field laborers in his role.

The television series is based on Christian Wallace’s popular podcast “Boomtown,” which delves into the Texas oil boom during the 21st century in the Permian Basin (America’s most productive oil field). Wallace’s Webby-nominated project sheds light on the businesses in Texas and the experiences of oil rig workers. As a former worker in the industry himself, Wallace offers insightful perspectives about the sector.

The show’s characters may not be real, but certain episodes draw inspiration from actual events. As Wallace explains, he blended aspects from the podcast with his preconceived storyline and family concept, which turned out to be quite successful.

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The Oil Rig Explosion

The initial episode concludes with a significant plot twist: an oil rig detonates, taking the lives of several characters whom viewers expected to see more of. Among them is Armando Medina, a key member of the oil crew, portrayed by Michael Peña. Noteworthy for his roles in Narcos: Mexico and Jack Ryan, Peña’s early departure from the show was unexpected given his usual longevity on a series.

Blowouts Have Become a Major Source of Concern

As a film enthusiast and Texas native, I’ve noticed an unsettling trend in our Lone Star State – explosions seem to be more frequent these days. Last year in January, a tragic blowout incident occurred at a Wendland well operated by Chesapeake Energy in Burleson County. Sadly, three workers lost their lives, and one was injured. Remarkably, the pilot episode of ‘Landman’ portrays similar heart-wrenching casualties.

The Texas Tribune has also reported that since October 2023, at least eight wells have either leaked or exploded in the Permian Basin. This chilling series on Paramount+ does an excellent job of highlighting the perils faced by employees, even when major oil companies are involved.

5
The Hazing Ritual

Tommy’s son, Cooper, unexpectedly chose to leave his geology studies in college and opt for a career as an oil rig worker. On his first day at work, it was noticeable that the veteran workers were testing him. They made him climb a high tower without any apparent reason, causing him distress. It was a challenging start to his job, but they weren’t being malicious. Instead, the men were trying to harden him up.

Hazing is Nothing New in the Oil Fields

The Labor and Law Employment Blog points out that hazing is prevalent in oil fields. New workers are often referred to as “worms” and compelled to endure annoying rituals that could push someone to their limits. An instance of this resulted in a lawsuit. In 2014, Max Taylor received close to a million dollars after filing a suit against the Nabors drilling company for fostering a hostile work environment.

Fortunately, Cooper’s hazing ceremony didn’t turn out as harshly as it usually does in reality. However, it seems the rig workers are treating him kindly merely because he is the boss’s son. Under different circumstances, their behavior towards him would likely be more severe.

4
Tommy Gets Kidnapped

The initial storyline for “Landman” opens with the character Tommy being abducted by cartel members at the start of the season. Remarkably, this predicament recurs in the final episode of the season as well (being a landman is undeniably challenging). In the debut episode, Tommy exudes self-assuredness when he threatens drug traffickers, boasting that his company would “burst them like a piñata.” He remains convinced that he will emerge unscathed. After all, the oil industry generates $3 billion daily, dwarfing the cartel’s aspirations. Despite his release on both occasions, real-life landmen have not been as fortunate.

More Money, More Problems

In the series, it’s possible that the frequent conflicts between cartels and oil companies may be somewhat exaggerated, but Tommy isn’t the unique figure among landmen who is under a veil of mystery. Although there haven’t been any documented kidnappings involving American oil companies in recent times, similar incidents have cropped up occasionally throughout history.

1. In 1992, Exxon executive Sidney Reso met his untimely demise in a storage facility in New Jersey, four days following his kidnapping.

2. In 1983, Kenneth S. Bishop, a high-ranking employee at the Texas Petroleum Company, was abducted by Colombian leftist rebels and was freed only after a $1 million ransom had been paid.

3. In 1973, David B. Wilkie Jr., president of Amoco Argentina (a branch of the Standard Oil Company of Indiana), was captured and released following an undisclosed ransom payment.

3
A Collision Between an Oil Truck and a Plane

In the opening episode of the show “Landman“, there’s a dramatic moment where an oil truck slams into a plane. As the scene unfolds, we witness two individuals in a hurry, transferring large amounts of cocaine from a van to an airplane. Tragically, the oil truck driver was already deceased with his foot still on the accelerator, leading to the collision. This explosion poses a significant challenge for Tommy to resolve.

Texas Roads Are Getting More Dangerous

In a way that seems unbelievable yet true, as portrayed in Boomtown, the expansion of the oil industry in Texas along U.S. Route 285, infamously known as the Highway to Hell or Death Highway, has resulted in an alarming rise in road accidents. The first episode illustrates that many of these tragic incidents involve oil tanker trucks traveling from the oil fields. Remarkably, the podcast discloses a staggering 67% surge in road fatalities since the oil boom of the 2010s.

According to Kfmx, the route experiences heavy oil field vehicle traffic, and due to the fact that many oil field workers often work long shifts, they may be fatigued while driving. Furthermore, frequent sinkholes are developing on this road, which are thought to be a result of constant fracking activities.

2
Bikini-Clad Barristas

On his initial day at work, the team leads Cooper to a coffee shop known as Babes N’ Brew, where waitresses dressed in pink bikinis cater to customers. When Cooper orders a latte, they tease him and call him an “aristocrat”. One of Cooper’s future coworkers then discards the latte out of the window.

Hot Coffee, Hot Girls

These baristas, dressed in bikinis, are very much real, not just a fantasy as imagined by Sheridan. As reported by the Daily Mail, it’s quite usual to see queues of pickup trucks even before dawn, eagerly waiting for strong coffee to kickstart their day. Strong coffee is crucial for workers aiming to stay alert throughout the day, which is why Cooper’s preference for lattes often draws laughter.

Marisa Randock, a former worker at Boomtown Babes coffee shop, disclosed she usually made between $200 and $300 in tips during an ordinary 4-hour shift. But, she cautioned aspiring workers that having a friendly, great personality is essential for this kind of job. It’s not just about appearances.

1
A Worker Gets Crushed to Death by an Oil Pipe

In the fifth episode, one of the most emotional scenes unfolds when Tommy converses with a manager who unfortunately stands atop a tower of drill pipes. Unfortunately, the entire structure crumples, leaving the man in grave danger. Recognizing that moving the equipment from his body would cause him to bleed out fatally, Tommy makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave him as he is, praying help arrives swiftly. As his condition worsens, the man requests a phone to contact his wife and bid her farewell. Sadly, he passes away shortly after.

The Brutal Realities of the Job

Wallace revealed that the emotional storyline originated from an account his uncle, a former oil rig worker, had shared with him. Unfortunately, his uncle didn’t meet his end as portrayed in the series, but rather, he was fatally struck by a pipe rack collapsing on him.

The situation underscores for spectators the perilous nature of the work involved. At any instant, a worker could meet a tragic end, yet the oil sector relentlessly presses forward. Regrettably, operations carry on without pause.

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2025-01-25 03:32