President – Donald E. Jones, Jr.
Don Jones is a fifth generation oil producer and has applied his talents and resources successfully to create a recognized oil producing business. Due to the growing demand for drilling rigs in the Illinois Basin area and foreseeing increased exploration activities, Don Jones created Pioneer Oil Field Services, LLC in the fall of 2004. To date, Pioneer Oil Field Services operates four drilling rigs full-time. In 1987, Donald E. Jones, Jr. was nominated for the Illinois Oil and Gas Association’s “Wildcatter of the Year” award for his successful wildcat drilling activities in Edwards County, Illinois. In 2006, Pioneer won the “Facility of the Year” award from the Indiana Oil & Gas Association for the Harmonie State Park facility. Don has won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from IOGA. Most recently, he won another prestigious award, the “Hall of Fame” award from INOGA which along with his father, Donald Jones, Sr. was also honored with this award makes them the first Father-Son to win this award.
Vice President – Mark Jones
Mark Jones, a graduated geologist, has grown up in the oil industry and has been involved in nearly every aspect, including drilling, rig supervision, and daily operations. He is an expert in cementing, drilling fluids, and other well stimulation treatments. It is his responsibility to oversee the finances of Pioneer Oil Field Services, LLC.
Vice President Operations – Brent Jones
Brent Jones is a highly-skilled welder and fabricator who has a great deal of experience in the oil industry, especially in drilling and workovers. His expert skills have been used to customize many pieces of equipment and fabricate necessary drilling equipment. Jones Welding, founded by Brent Jones, has a complete fabrication facility and trained staff capable of producing the highest quality equipment utilizing the most advanced technology available. They have fabricated several pieces of equipment for Franklin Well Services, Inc. including a state-of-the-art frac truck and cementing pump truck.
Sonny McCulley – Drilling Superintendent
Sonny McCulley is a third generation oil man and started his 30 year career as most others, following his father. Sonny began working on a pulling unit in 1979 as a summer job. Then after graduating high school in 1982, he began working full time in the well service field. In 1983 he broke out on his first rotary rig and continued in the drilling and completion industry until 2000, where he began a six year career in law enforcement. Shortly after leaving law enforcement he became a mud engineer. From there he was a top drive engineer for a short time, and then started pushing tools. Sonny has drilled in 12 states but has spent most of his life and career in the Illinois basin.
Sonny began taking care of the day to day operations of Pioneer Oil Field Services in 2012 and he and his son, Brad carry on the family tradition while providing our customers with the highest quality equipment and service in the Illinois basin at a competitive price.
Bradley E. McCulley – Assistant Drilling Superintendent
A fourth generation oil man, Brad McCulley started his career going to the rigs in the summer with his father. He worked around drilling and work over rigs until he graduated high school. Brad then went on to become a welder. For three years he built tank trucks, winch trucks, and work over rigs. Brad has drilled in 14 different states, drilling with air, water, and oil based fluids. He has drilled with all types of directional tools and has been part of many successful directional wildcat wells.
Brad over sees the drilling operations and equipment for Pioneer Oil Field Services and ensures that all drilling expectations and goals are met.