Hi David,after reading the requirement, I guess Olympus "SW" series seems a good choice....but it do not use "AA" battery.
I bot a Canon Digital Ixus 860IS or PowerShot SD870 IS Digital Elph as it's known in North America, per full charge of bettery can last for 2 hours+ for non-stop shooting or about 340 images taken at high resolution ie, 8MP. (tested by myself last week for a friend's wedding using 2G SD class 6 card - reduce shutter lag).
for oil field use, weather resistance or waterproof is a must. At the mom, only Olympus "SW" fits this requirement. ( a friend of mine, tested it underwater about 1 metre deep, and it works)....so, if it drop into muds, can just wash it away.
Cheers,
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