Many people have a negative view of the oil and gas drilling industry, often with good reason. However, much of the drilling being done now in the United States is for clean burning natural gas. The impact from a natural gas well, from which gas flows from the ground under it’s own pressure, is much less visible than that of an oil well. Whereas producing oil wells are prone to leaks, spills and often feature a large unsightly pumpjack, a natural gas well consists of just a large pipe and series of valves that are hooked up to a metering station and finally a pipeline. To care for these wells natural gas companies like Chesapeake hire men and women known as pumpers or production employees.
These jobs usually pay a decent salary with good benefits. Around a natural gas field many businesses spring up to provide services related to gas transport and production. The infrastructure of a large gas field, such as the one being developed in the Marcellus shale and Barnett Shale requires companies that sell large compressors, iron pipe, welding supplies, trenching and digging equipment, heavy equipment and more.
All of these related jobs will be increasing in number in places like Pennsylvania where the Marcellus Shale is being developed. This vast discovery of natural gas is already creating hundreds of new jobs in the Northeastern United States. In addition to jobs checking on the gas wells and meters there are jobs for those in the pipeline construction and maintenance business. Many miles of new small diameter to medium size pipeline must be laid to collect Marcellus shale gas. There will be a need for trucking companies which in turn will hire drivers with commercial driver’s licenses to move heavy equipment, pipe and oilfield related equipment and fluids. On the government side there will be many new inspectors hired by the agencies that regulate the oil and gas industry in those states.
For more on oil and gas production jobs see: Oil and Gas Production Jobs