Pennsylvania Cold Shale

Outside the covered rig, the wind chill was 5°F. I had sub-zero clothing on and an electric hand warmer to keep frostbite at bay for five hours. Photos: roughnecks maintain the rig deck; the rig looms over snowy corn fields and telephone wires at dawn; adjusting hoses by pressure tanks; roughneck inspects equipment; ground view of the rig; nearby Butler, the largest city north of Pittsburgh, and rolling hills that characterize the region.