Work force groups prepare for future gas drilling jobs

Work force groups prepare for future gas drilling jobs.

This is an extract from http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/09-18-WASH-CO-REDEVELOPMENT-AUTH

An entry-level training program launched in July for people looking for jobs in the natural gas drilling industry here already has graduated more than 30, officials of the course told the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County on Wednesday.

While not all of the graduates have found employment, Linda Bell, a member of the Southwest Corner Workforce Investment Board, told the authority that the Natural Gas Certified Operations Technician program offered at Western Area Career & Technology Center in Houston is an effort to train local people for emerging employment opportunities in the Marcellus Shale strata here.
"We have local residents available to fill emerging jobs," Bell said, explaining that the 160-hour certification course was designed after she and other work force officials met with representatives of local natural gas drilling companies to learn what types of training people would need to find jobs in the oilfield.

According to Bell, in addition to ensuring that local residents can qualify for job opportunities that arise here, a larger goal is to standardize training courses across the state. She said the work force board has asked the Allegheny Conference to apply for a federal grant of between $2 million and $5 million to make a standardized statewide training program possible.

"We don't know all of the training needs of the industry, but we will create a standard curriculum for all of Pennsylvania," Bell said, adding that while 10 work force boards around the state are involved in the planning, the statewide program would be administered by the local board.

"Wherever drilling occurs in the Marcellus, there will be a standard curriculum that the industry has put its stamp on," she said, adding that the entry-level course is designed to enable graduates to eventually return for more advanced training courses.

Nancy Lohr, WACTC's adult education supervisor, and Dave Adamson, cooperative education coordinator at the school, said they have graduated two classes, or a total of 33 people, since starting the course in mid-July.

While many graduates have not received jobs, Adamson and Lohr noted that the long-term view of industry officials is that drilling will increase as the price of gas rises. They noted that many of the participants in the new program are displaced workers from other industries.

"Drilling has slowed down, but as we're making contact with companies, the expectation is very high," Bell said.

"Some in the industry are not going to drill until the price gets back to $6," Adamson said, adding that other companies have continued to drill locally, despite the lower prices. He said entry-level drilling workers here are earning between $12 and $15 per hour, adding that in some cases, workers are earning more with overtime.

Natural gas on the New York Mercantile Exchange lost 25.2 cents Thursday to settle at $3.458 per 1,000 cubic feet. Natural gas prices have been spiking all week and remain well above Monday's opening.