Many people in the basin contend that no amount of money is worth the impact that methane mining is having on their lives and land, even with assurances by drilling companies that the land will be restored when gas supplies are exhausted.

But to tap those reserves, they turn to drilling companies that hire workers for 30 days at a time.

This information is then sold to drilling companies to help determine the best place to drill for gas or oil.

As a result of this dispensation, which has been dubbed the Halliburton Loophole, drilling companies are under no obligation to make public which chemicals they use.

A frugal man in his personal life, Mr. Deming drilled companies to work relentlessly to reduce waste - anything from parts sitting unused in inventory to motions by a worker that did not add value to the final product.

Under orders from the Bush administration - which requires the agency to fill out an "energy impact statement" whenever it denies a drilling permit - the agency is expected to cut through red tape and make it easy for drilling companies to get to work fast.

Bristow Helicopters provide offshore support services to drill companies exploring offshore from Dongara.

It's the same for oil-service industries like drilling companies.

But those drilling companies that have survived the crunch of the last five years are better able to meet their contracted prices, he said.

Party leaders hope to repeal several billion dollars in tax breaks to oil companies, including a special deduction for "manufacturing" that was extended to drilling companies two years ago.