[Texas resident]

Good one. The oil business is usually feast/famine.
Back in the mid 80’s the price of oil was $9 per barrel.
Joke going around that time was:
What’s the difference between a Texas oil man and a pigeon?

A pigeon can make a deposit on a Mercedes Benz.

[Smokin' Joe]

Another one was "A major corporation is hiring geologists and drilling engineers hand over fist in Denver!"

"Who?"

"McDonalds!"

[central_va]

My inflation calculator says 9$ in 1985 = $20.50 in 2015.