Oil And Gas production Engineer
New extraction techniques are driving growth and demand for engineers while also raising questions.
BY EVA KAPLAN-LEISERSON
Depending on the speaker, the production of natural gas and oil from unconventional sources using hydraulic fracturing is either the saving grace of U.S. energy, the economy, and manufacturing or a disastrous trend with dire consequences for the environment and communities.
The debate on extraction from sources such as shale is contentious, with heated opinions on both sides and a need for better science and data. But no matter where your opinions fall, what's undeniable is the striking effect of unconventional gas and oil on the U.S. energy picture. This shake-up offers implications for many sectors, including engineering. How are the changes affecting employment and academia?
The Numbers Game
Injecting water, sand, and additives to create fissures in rock isn't a new strategy. But the combination of fracking with long horizontal wells has enabled the release of gas in extensive areas and made wells productive enough to be economical, explains Dan Hill, P.E., head of Texas A&M's petroleum engineering department. The methods have "changed the game" from a focus on finding deposits to how to extract resources, he says.
According to a report on unconventional energy sources from business information and advisory company IHS, U.S. natural gas production has risen 25% over the last five years, largely due to shale gas production. That source rose from just 2% of natural gas production in 2000 to 37% in 2012, according to America's New Energy Future: The Unconventional Oil and Gas Revolution and the U.S. Economy.
The increasing supplies of gas are lowering costs of materials and fuel for manufacturing, leading some to credit the boom for a U.S. industrial revival.
The same techniques causing the natural gas boom are also being applied to oil, especially as gas prices have fallen due to an increase in supply. U.S. oil production reached an average 7 million barrels per day in November and December 2012, the highest volume since December 1992, according to the Energy Information Administration.
But even more dramatic are the predictions for the U.S. to reach energy independence and become an exporter. The International Energy Agency's 2012 World Energy Outlook envisioned a scenario in which the U.S. could become a net exporter of natural gas by 2020 and almost net self-sufficient (balancing imports with exports) by 2035.
Job Prospects
All this activity means a need for workers, including engineers. Despite slowdowns in natural gas production, the oil and gas industry still faces a talent crisis that is driving high salaries and multiple job offers for graduates, according to schools.
Hill, who last November testified on unconventional energy research needs to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, estimates there are "tens of thousands" of engineering jobs directly related to shale and other low permeability developments. He expects job creation to continue, especially as more reservoirs are discovered across the country.
How much of tips should you budget for taxes? How to pronounce caprese? wii u usb helper how to decrypt How to care for a christmas cactus? What does impossible mean? What is the meaning of the snake flag? What is the meaning of circumnavigation? What is figurative meaning? What does it mean when your airpods are flashing orange? When are tips added doordash? What fruits are in season? What does thot stand for? Tips when going on a 14 hr drive? What does desiree mean? rails how to write helper if else What does mean? What does emanate mean? How to get rid of a sore throat fast? How to use wireshark? how to remove learning helper rimworld Where did you sleep last night song meaning? What does it mean when a man tips his hat at a woman? What does due process mean? 1111 meaning when thinking of someone? Tips for dealing with someone who splits and bpd? How to have a boy? How to parallel park? How does a garnishment work for servers who make alot in tips and their check isnt alot? why do the test helper t cells What is the meaning of to and fro? Speaking tips for when you're being filmed? How to calculate slope? who fulfills fulfills the proppian function of helper Why would a group of preoperational children find magic tricks uninteresting? science forums? How many "natural hat tricks" in the nhl? How to transition between two different wood floors? What temp does ice melt? What is dha? How to cook pork ribs in the oven? How to forgive yourself? How to take off the airpods pro tips? How to text someone who blocked you? How to use one note? What does metacognition mean? What does transaction mean? What is the united kingdom? how to pass koala cafe helper application How to temporarily change address texas? What terminal is united at lax? How to do supper cool magic tricks? describe how helper t cells and cytotoxic t cells are activated by pathogen antigens How to set homepage in chrome? What is the meaning of periodic table in science? How to return items to amazon? What do different colors mean? What does ops mean in baseball? What does the medusa tattoo mean? What does school stand for? What does eta mean? How to train your dog tricks and games? How to clarify butter? How many tricks do you turn? What is the meaning of alimony? What does the water emoji mean? How to factory reset a hp laptop? What do numbers on disc golf mean? What does it mean when your heart skips a beat? What is nsfw mean? What does intj mean? What is the meaning of without prejudice in legal terms? What does zavodila meaning? How to balance vaginal ph? How long to bake pumpkin seeds? How to heal cavities in 2 days? What are soft gel tips? What does upmost mean? How to write good tech tips for beginners? What does the tear tattoo mean? How many calories should i eat a day to lose weight? What does rose quartz mean? What does gas pain feel like? What does underestimate mean? How to stop puppies from biting? What does the acronym pass stand for? What does a blood clot look like in the leg? What does vevo mean? What does legitimate mean? Aka how to teach an old dog new tricks? what exactly do helper t cells do how much does it cost to get helper springs It is what it is quotes? what does ip helper service do Who can do the best soccer tricks? How to treat blisters? how to make hamburger helper beef pasta from scratch When can i start teaching my puppy tricks? What is lessor and lessee meaning? How long does sudafed take to work? What the meaning of identify? What are the health related fitness? What is the meaning of the iris flower? Why is my fifa rating still good despite getting hat tricks?
Where in California can a good oil and gas job be found?
California has a lot of oil and gas, but the easiest way to get a job related to gas and oil would be working at a gas station. The money should be more interesting if you get a job with the companies who the oil comes from.
@Setting4Success: #Setting4Success Freeport-McMoRan Reviewing Options for Oil and Gas Business - Wall Street Journal #News #smallbusiness #entrepreneur
@zxfutures: Encana to Sell Colorado Oil and Gas Assets for $900 Million - Wall Street Journal