I n early 2010, Charlotte business owner Randy Balderas and I entered into a discussion about the onset of Eagle Ford Shale drilling activity. Randy said he was interested in doing all he could to make his Trojan Construction business available to oil firms. He already had experience in performing certain services for that industry, albeit there wasn’t that much going on in the oil industry in this county at that time.

That all certainly changed!

“I was watching and keeping abreast of what was going on and the more that I heard the more that I got engaged in trying to develop in the Eagle Ford Shale activity,” said Balderas, continuing, “To begin with, the Trojan Bar and Grill I had was closed and leased to Casedhole Solutions for ten years. This opened the door for other petroleumrelated companies. Since then I’ve brought in seven more firms onto my property. Six of them through purchases of property with me building their structures and the other one on a lease plan.”

Scene overlooking cross section of Charlotte oil industry development. Balderas continued, “Charlotte is a small town where they could grow and have the room and the resources and the personnel available with our community being close to Pleasanton and San Antonio. One company led to another and they all sort of fell in line and we still have some more companies coming. We’re going to close on a couple of more companies shortly.”

Firms in Balderas’ Trojan Construction development along with Casedhole Solutions are LTR Light Tower Rentals; JC Instride, Inc.; Roadrunner Transportation; DES Supply, Inc.; Missouri Basin Well Service; Oilfield Support Services and Trojan Cabins.

“I flew into Houston the other day,” said Balderas, continuing, “and that was related to my starting up a new company on my property. We’re entering into the power generation business and had placed a huge order there. We’ll also be handling light towers and tanks. Five months ago we started up a full-service catering business that is available 24/7.”

Aerial view looking from the east across Balderas’ oilfield service development properties. Balderas said, “If someome wants to buy property from us, we develop it and build the buildings. That’s the way I handle all of my properties. This oil development will be in South Texas for a long time,” continuing, “We provide support services for the drilling and fracking operations. We assist with moving rigs, tearing down and reerecting flares among various other jobs that enable drillers to keep their experienced, valuable hands on the rig to concentrate on those important operations. On the rig side we help with the minuscule tasks like unloading pipe, cleaning pipes, pressure washing. On the fracking side we provide lease crews to tie together the frack tanks to support the fracking company be it Halliburton, Baker Hughes or whoever. We make their job easier and more efficient. It’s all about saving dollars for companies we assist. By us providing another relief crew on line, it makes their job faster and cost-effective. Among other things, we build the roads, get equipment and vehicles out of the mud, construct pads and aid in keeping drilling sites clean. While fracking is going on, there may be 80 to 100 workers on hand. So they have trailers where they house those people. We provide housecleaning services and that’s an ‘around the clock’ job with fracking companies’ constant shifts of day and night crews.”

Randy Balderas with his business sign in background. Continuing, Balderas said, “I was raised here in Charlotte and have lived here all my life except for a four-year stint in the Navy where I was stationed in Spain. Charlotte is a small town, it’s quiet and the neighbors are good. Everbody tries to help each other – everybody knows everybody. I really enjoy living here and try to do what I can for the community.”