Natural gas 'supercenter' in Vilonia far from complete

VILONIA They may begin moving in the natural gas "supercenter" located in Vilonia during the month of September but company officials doubt the project will be completely finished before January. And, it may be nearing the end of 2009 before a full crew will be hired.

"Once we get it all done, we will have an open house," said Mike Nelson, district manager for CUDD Energy Services in Vilonia. "But, that more than likely be after the first of the year."

Employees have been working out of makeshift facilities for several months as they wait for their new offices, training facility, warehouse and a six bay service center to be completed just off of Highway 64 East, a couple of miles from downtown Vilonia.

"We do most of our work out in the field," Nelson offered. Trucks bearing the CUDD name, he said, may be seen traveling the highways and byways in all directions responding to wells in the surrounding counties.

"Wherever the oil and gas business is going on, that's where we are at," he added.

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The work, he explained, includes "going in after a well has been drilled and rigging up on a well-site to stimulate the well" to produce to its full capacity. Their services may include performing six to eight stages per well that average at least two days on each.

Currently, Nelson said, they have about 100 employees and plan to hire another 100 or so, including office staff and field workers, prior to the end of 2009.

"We have moved in 10 to 15 families but the majority of our people were born and raised in this area," he said. Pointing to his gray T-shirt, bearing the word Oklahoma, Nelson said he and his family were included in the move. Currently based out of Oklahoma, he has worked in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas.

"I've been in the oil field business for 20 plus years," he offered. "We moved a few here who knew the business but the majority are local and didn't have any oil field experience. We had to train them to do the job and two weeks on safety."

Safety, he said, is the ultimate factor with CUDD and the employees. So much so, he said, a safety meeting is held every morning and everyone participates. The job, he said, is definitely not for everyone. It takes an "interesting sort," Nelson said, to be a field worker.

"The hours are not 8 to 5," he surmised. "We start at 3:30 a.m. and we might work until 9 p.m. The hours are long. The work is out in the weather. It can be raining or the sun bearing down, it doesn't matter."

In Arkansas, he said, the turnover rate for employees has been low.

"We've got some hard workers," he said. "We've been pleased."

With an estimated investment of nearly $100 million, Nelson anticipates CUDD will be a good neighbor to Vilonia for several years with each benefiting from the relationship.

"One thing good about Arkansas all the sales tax generated come back to wherever the base is at," he said. "So, we should be good for Vilonia and the county."

It was also said in an earlier interview with CUDD officials they will have a $9 to 10 million payroll when they are fully staffed.