BRIGGS: Energy Programs Essential To Oil And Gas Future

As the oil and gas industry touches nearly every corner of this great country, a few key components will keep it strong for the future. Obviously, expanding our technology base is crucial to developing these deep, highly pressurized plays. Keeping a close tab on regulations will continue to be important so that future economic development is not squashed out due to unnecessary laws on the books. However, the industry recognizes the education of our future workforce as the lead contributor to ensuring a robust oil and gas industry.

Historically speaking, Louisiana has not had the best track record in the education department. Our state typically ranks in the bottom two or three in the country each year. However, over the last decade, our community and technical colleges, along with our four-year degree universities have stepped up their requirements as well as their offerings for those students who desire a career in the oil and gas industry.

Specifically, a few good examples are the energy programs offered at Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), Fletcher Technical Community College (FTCC) and Nicholls State University (NSU) to name but a few. BPCC offers programs such as oil and gas production technology, instrumentation and mechatronics. FTCC offers programs such as integrated production technology (IPT) and a Medic First Aid certification, which is necessary for onshore and offshore exploration and production. Conveniently, NSU as well as LSU offer complete four-year degrees in petroleum engineering and geology studies. Certain programs offered at the community and technical level have agreements with the four-year institutions that allow for the continuation of those specific areas of study.

Why is a quality education so important to the oil and gas industry? For starters, these educational institutions now offer certifications that the oil and gas industry requires for certain job roles. In previous years, the industry would make a hire, then have to send the worker back to get certified in different areas of the industry. Two negatives to this former process exist: 1. The industry has to spend additional dollars before that new employee ever steps foot into the role. 2. The job goes unfilled until a trained and certified worker becomes available.

As mentioned in the beginning, technology is quickly advancing with each passing day. This does not necessarily mean that fewer humans are required to do the job. In reality, it means that more training is necessary to understand and execute the new technology. The chain reaction then occurs. A trained and skilled workforce then develops new technologies that allow the oil and gas industry to thrive.

In addition to training and certifying at the collegiate level, the State of Louisiana has now created a new k-12 program called Jump Start. This program allows students to graduate high school with a traditional diploma or with a technical diploma. If the student so chooses the technical route, he or she arrives at the community or technical college with necessary credits before the first day of college ever begins.

Whether a future worker desires to become an engineer or instrumentation tech, the necessary courses and programs are now available. A trained and skilled workforce is the essential element to an energy secure nation.

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