Monument Rocks oil drilling

Monument Rocks is a National Natural Landmark, located in western Kansas. Cretaceous chalk formations rise up to 70 feet from the Kansas prairie. The classic photo op, especially for tourists, is standing in this large oval window. Not anymore :(. My wife and I made the 2.5 hour trip out to Monument Rocks, arriving after dark. Walking around, waiting for the moon to come up, my wife happened to point the flashlight out into the pasture, where it reflected off of the truck. I took this photo in the pre-dawn light, feeling extremely blue about the whole situation. Even though I prefer one of the other rock formations for my night photography, it really bothers me that they are drilling this close to one of Kansas' "Eight Natural Wonders". The rig is only a few hundred feet at most from the rocks. This oil company is drilling all across this part of the state.

I am also posting this image in the EPJ gallery, but I knew this would be of interest to some here. This rig was not there a month ago.

I thought this was on private land, in which case they certainly can do whatever they want to. If it is on public land, then too bad the state did not protect it any better, or perhaps they just needed the lease money. However, really, you used up quite a bit of oil driving there (as we all do every day) - where else are they going to get it? We are in the middle of a weird time where folks are crying out for "oil independence," yet we certainly don't want it in our back yards for goodness sake - put it in someone else's back yard! (Alaska, the Gulf, or ?) We can't have it both ways (lots of gas without ever drilling) - if you drive cars, the oil has to come from somewhere.

I don't think there's any contradiction about being blue that a great view and photo opportunity has been ruined, at least temporarily, and using oil to drive somewhere. You can both recognize the need to get and use oil and also think it's a shame that this small piece of the world is now uglier because of it.

Rob, I can understand your feelings about the drilling being so close. There probably is some sort of setback requirements for drilling close to the National Natural Landmark and they are probably just beyond it. (if not there should be). If there is to be a pumper at this location it will certainly take away the feeling of solitude and peace and quiet that one can enjoy here.

On the other hand, I have always felt grateful to be able to get as close as we can to the rocks, since they are on private ground. The land owner could probably fence it off and not let anyone in if he/she chose to do so. I also sadly agree with Joseph, that as long as we take for granted our use of oil and gas in the cars we drive and products we buy, it is hard to argue against continued oil and gas developement. Now how and where that developement takes place is a whole other topic.

Hmm, not sure what I think about this. Kinda sad, but inevitable and understandable from the land owners perspective.

How did your moon shots turn out?

Well, I hope that one can maneuver a little bit either direction to have a more natural looking scene. Although maybe it wouldn't be as good as the perpendicular angle you have there?

I understand and respect the land owner's right to drill wherever he wants. I just wish the well could have been a little farther to the right, which would have put it behind the main mass of the rocks. Don, there are still angles to shoot that avoid the worst of the oil rig. For me, the window isn't that great of a view anyways, at least compared to the towers of rocks in the rest of the formations. Scott, I didn't get much in the way of night shots this time; the early morning sunflower images were much better. The sky was clear, and I think a few clouds always enhance the night shots. This trip was really impromtu for me, because I wasn't for sure I was going to get off work to go with my wife to pick up her daughter from church camp at Scott Lake.