Plot Synopsis

There's an oil boom in west Texas and that means big risk, big reward and big characters drilling for crude. The oilmen risk their fortunes, because it costs millions to drill two miles into the Earth. But this exhausting, dangerous work demands that young roughnecks risk something more valuable -- their lives. Not only do they have to contend with the elements on the rig like scorching heat and sudden lightning storms, there's heavy iron all around and the constant risk of a lethal blowout. But the oilman is putting up nearly a hundred grand a day to drill the well, so that bit has to keep turning. BLACK GOLD returned for its fifth season on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 10pm ET, with a gas leak that sent the roughnecks running.