The oil and gas industry encompasses a significant history level, and difficulties certainly add a taste of controversy. When the boom is underway, profits churn, and many within the industry make an exceptional living. Still, when the bust overshadows the greatness, many dreams are traded for alternate means of financial survival. While the industry can be highly lucrative, the potential downside can influence a new professional’s career path when entering the field. To identify which career options have the most stability, a simple following of the money can shed some light, and in oil and gas, that trail leads back to production.
Adhering to a comprehensive definition, production refers to extracting oil and gas from the earth and then selling down the line. Increased production typically increases profits while restricting the flow of oil and gas directly tightens the wallet. So, production remains when it comes to cutbacks and reassessments of resource allocation. As a result, the people who make production happen carry critical importance. Extracting oil and gas from the earth’s core may be difficult without them.
With production influencing profits, careers in this field are in demand. While the world continues to entertain alternate energy sources, and it should, fossil fuels remain the primary energy source. In 2021, the American Petroleum Institute released a study prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, indicating the oil and gas industry supplied 10.8 million total jobs and contributed approximately $1.8 trillion to the domestic economy that same year. The International Energy Agency also predicted an increase in global oil demand of 102.9 million barrels per day in 2024. Numbers like these indicate no industry foreclosure anytime soon.
While the industry continues to contribute to global energy production, it can be viewed as a place of extraordinary opportunity. The area of production monopolizes that opportunity. The sector carries an old saying: the closer you are to the wellhead, the safer your job will be.” If that is the case, one can only get closer to the well in a production role.
According to a U.S. News and World Report article, production roles include many roles that earn highly desirable salaries. Petroleum Engineers design and institute various methods for extracting oil and gas from the earth. Their role is critical in optimizing a well’s performance while managing resource recovery efforts that meet environmental regulations. A petroleum engineer’s median salary comes in around $131,800 and includes a growth potential of two percent.
Chemical engineers play a vital role in production by processing field samples and ensuring the correct chemicals are added to transform the raw products into usable forms. A chemical engineer’s mid-range salary carries a weight of $106,260, with an increase in growth potential of up to eight percent.
Petroleum geoscientists offer a significant contribution to production efforts. They conduct the research and determine the best location for oil and gas extraction. Individuals who select this career path will work closely with petroleum engineers to find new oil and gas sources and estimate the potential sizes of oil and gas deposits. With a possible growth rate of five percent, petroleum geoscientists earn an average of $87,480.
Ensuring that companies function as good stewards of the land, they employ environmental engineers who mitigate the impact made on the environment when extracting oil and gas and during processing segments. They design systems that prevent failures and develop those used to remediate hazardous situations levied against the environment. These jobs are in demand and provide a median salary of $96,530 with a six percent job growth potential.
Production roles vary greatly. Some of its career opportunities require college degrees, while others capitalize on field experience. In addition to the engineering and scientific roles, individuals can enter the world of production through technical jobs, planning positions, operations, and even accounting—production premiers as it is a lucrative sector with multiple career options.
In a recent search conducted using rigzone.com, over 960 production-type roles were available in the United States. The first twenty listings displayed a wide range of jobs available. While two job listings were posted for production technicians, one listing requested a production accountant. Two roles were available for production engineers, two seeking production technicians and one foreman. One role was open for a production supervisor, mechanic, consultant, and production welder. The highest demand was for production operators and leads, with each role having four positions in demand.
With the proximity to the well and the role production plays in the oil and gas sector, individuals searching to enter the oil and gas industry or climb the ladder within certainly have good chances of securing lucrative positions. As long as the global market demands fossil fuels as its primary fuel source, production roles will remain in demand. Those looking at what this area offers should consider location and longevity when making career selections. With so much available, career seekers might not be in the driver’s seat when searching for a job, but with the high demand, they can undoubtedly be choosy.
Nick Vaccaro is a freelance writer and photographer. In addition to providing technical writing services, he is an HSE consultant in the oil and gas industry with twelve years of experience. Vaccaro also contributes to SHALE Oil and Gas Business Magazine, American Oil and Gas Investor, Oil and Gas Investor, Energies Magazine and Louisiana Sportsman Magazine. He has a BA in photojournalism from Loyola University and resides in the New Orleans area. Vaccaro can be reached at 985-966-0957 or nav@vaccarogroupllc.com.
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
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Nick Vaccarohttps://oilmanmagazine.com/author/nick-vaccaro/
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.
