EXHIBIT 23.9



                       CONSENT OF JOE C. NEAL & ASSOCIATES
                         INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS



         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
this Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 and the related Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, and to the incorporation by reference of our reserve
report that is included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of TMBR/Sharp
Drilling, Inc. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2003) into the Registration
Statement and the related Proxy Statement/Prospectus.



                                                  /s/ Joe C. Neal & Associates
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Joe C. Neal & Associates



October 2, 2003


Midland, Texas