Regarding the scuttlebutt search, the quest for gossip, I'd like to follow some of the workers when they get off and see what bar they stop at on the way home, may catch them there on a Saturday too. I doubt they would say anything to a stranger but someone else there may have heard rumors. The gold mine operators I met in Arizona were close-mouthed about the operation, but they talked a little to the barmaids. He still may be able to tell if any work has been done recently in some of the new areas, like Fernley.
If you want to make A MILLION dollars on oil and gas, build a 16 BILLION dollar refinery.
Quote from an unknown oil executive.