Engineers and construction workers needed in new phase of oil and gas industry
Friday, August 1, 2014
Many oil and gas companies operating in the Marcellus Shale region are looking for skilled workers for the stages beyond drilling wells, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Midstream infrastructure, or the phase of oil and gas wells where pipelines are built and gas and oil are transported, requires the expertise of engineers and construction workers. Although these skilled workers are often local, out-of-state workers are sometimes hired if they have more experience in the field.
Some colleges have oil and gas industry programs that have prepared their graduates for work in the oil and gas field according to Tracy Brundage, Penn College’s vice president for workforce development.
Via: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review > Hiring in shale industry shifts to engineering, construction workers
Related story: Columbiana County gets Utica Shale Academy
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.