Hardhats and Black Gold?

Unidentified workers with Mr. Bennie London on the far right.  Photo taken in February 1956 for United Press. 

Mr. Bennie London. Photo taken in February 1956 for United Press.

The captions on these photos are uncertain of the location.  I would presume they are the California Oil Fields, but having been there only a few times and unable to remember anything significant, I will refrain from calling the background that officially until someone out there who knows better than I tells me what we are seeing in these photos.  Whew!