In 1979, Earl Bartholomew opened Heat Can Oil, LLC in Chanute, Kansas. At the time, the oil business was booming in this part of the state. Bartholomew's company got a piece of the action by specializing in heat-treating oil in stock tanks to remove excess water. Bartholomew also offered a number of roustabout services, but his desire was to grow Heat Can Oil into a comprehensive provider of oil and natural gas transportation systems. All he needed was the right equipment.

Bartholomew visited Ditch Witch of Kansas and found what he was looking for. The Valley Center, Kansas, dealership sold him a Ditch Witch® 4010 trencher, which he would use for many years to install gas and oil pipelines from the producing wells to the gathering systems and on to the distribution center.

But the mid-80s, as everyone knows, brought an end to the energy boom. Heat Can Oil, however, managed to hang tough through the down years. The company's tenacity is now being rewarded, as Southeast Kansas is currently seeing a resurgence of oil and gas exploration and vast economic improvements in the area. Once again a hotbed of energy production, particularly coal-bed methane gas, the region is expected to continue providing energy companies a steady supply for at least 15 to 20 years.

As he did more than 20 years ago during the last energy heyday, Bartholomew turned to Ditch Witch of Kansas for the equipment he needed to capitalize on the boom. Today, with a fleet that includes the Ditch Witch 5110 trencher/vibratory plow, the 8020 trencher/plow, and the RT95 heavy-duty tractor, Bartholomew has his nine-man crew armed and ready to tackle the region's tough terrain.

"There's not a lot of rock in Southeast Kansas—there's one big rock," says Bartholomew. "Our machines are equipped with 50/50 digging chains with shark and dirt teeth. Since August of last year, we've broken through and trenched an amazing 20 miles of pipeline with diameters ranging from two to 12 inches."

Bartholomew chose the right machines for the territory. The 5110, 8020, and RT95 are among the most productive and dependable trenchers/vibratory plows in their respective categories. Each is designed to install power and communications cable, natural gas, water and sewer distribution lines, and commercial sprinkler and agricultural irrigation systems. Bartholomew uses the 8020 and RT95 for digging the larger trenches for pipeline—up to 14-inch polyethylene—and the 5110 for smaller trenches to lay electric and other lines.

The mechanical-drive 5110 features an exclusive Ditch Witch enclosed gearbox that protects components, eliminates periodic adjustments, and provides smooth shifting. Its heavy-duty digging booms, chains and teeth are designed for tough digging conditions, including rocky soils and frost. The all-hydraulic 8020 is an 80-horsepower trencher/plow that trenches to depths of 90 inches and plows to cover depths of 30 inches. It features a four-wheel-drive hydrostatic power train with infinitely variable speed control and four-wheel steering for maneuvering in tight spots or trenching next to obstacles. And the heavy-duty RT95 is equipped with a 99-horsepower John Deere diesel engine and a large-capacity hydraulic system that provides dependable performance in the harshest work environments.

"Since we purchased this latest Ditch Witch equipment, we've really sped up our processes," says Bartholomew. "The equipment does a great job and we're looking to purchase more in the near future, as business grows. We really like the service we get from the dealership, too. If we have any problems, Ben (Rogers, Ditch Witch of Kansas sales representative) is always on the spot. Or if we need a piece of equipment but we don't know what, he comes out and shows us what we need."

These are once again the good old days for Heat Can Oil. Melissa Bartholomew, Earl's wife and company bookkeeper, is happily managing the significant increase in billing duties. And the company is gearing up for another new 15- to 20-mile pipeline project. If all goes as planned, the company expects to complete a total of 60 miles of pipeline by the end of the year.

And Ditch Witch of Kansas will be behind the company every step, every mile of the way, with the very best in equipment, supplies, and customer support.