Is oil and gas production a good career path? This question is prevalent among those looking forward to entering the oil and gas industry. Working in the oil & gas sector can be extremely rewarding, personally and professionally.
Finding work and getting a job in the oil and gas industry is the best thing that could happen to you right now and in the future. Because the oil and gas industry provides a diverse variety of career opportunities, be it offshore or onshore, or traditional office jobs.
However, we also have to consider the downsides to this industry when considering it as a career path. The job may seem demanding and hectic. Even sometimes it requires you to follow and have good ethics in safety practices. Hence this leads to the question, is oil and gas production a good career path for graduates?
This article will discuss the oil and gas career, the salary, the education requirements and every other detail you need to know about the oil and gas industry.
What Is Oil And Gas Production?
The process of extracting crude oil and natural gas from wells and refining them into usable finished petroleum products is known as oil and gas production.
Exploration of the site, actual extraction, and distribution of the finished goods to enterprises and the general public are all meticulous phases in oil and gas production.
The oil and gas sector is one of the biggest in the world and has a significant impact on the global economy. It is a sector that can be just as volatile and fragile as any other industry.
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Is Oil And Gas Production A Good Career Path?
Yes, we consider Oil and gas production as a good career path as the oil and gas industry offers several benefits to the country’s economy, individual workers, and the general public. A career in the oil and gas production industry is stable, and the future of this industry is secure.
Oil and gas companies employ the Oil and Gas UK Workforce Report from 2018 estimates that 283,000 people in the UK alone, demonstrating the industry’s global reach.
Oil and gas businesses operate vary, providing a wide range of opportunities and benefits to individuals who meet their standards.
Despite concerns about environmental issues and rumors of a shortage of crude oil, this business is still growing, and a lot of attention is now being paid to carbon management and the world’s overall health.
We all consider these factors when we want to start a new job; some people may prioritize job happiness more than salary, while others may emphasize location or travel opportunities.
Whatever your factor is, be rest assured that you’re covered. There are several reasons oil and gas production is a suitable career choice, one of which is the abundance of employment options within this rigorous industry.
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What Are The Examples Of an Oil And Gas Production Career?
Oil and gas production is a fairly complicated process with numerous moving parts. One may help with drilling for oil, extracting it from the ground, or refining it. This implies that a wide range of employees with a wide range of backgrounds is employed in the sector.
The following are examples of oil and gas production careers:
- Drilling engineer
- Energy engineer
- Engineering geologist
- Geochemist
- Geoscientist
- Geophysicist
- Hydrographic surveyor
- Mining engineer
- Mudlogger
- Petroleum engineer
- Wellsite geologist
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Career In Oil And Gas Production?
As with every other career path, a career in oil and gas production has advantages and disadvantages.
The Pros
- The Pay: The pay is one of the main benefits. Jobs in the oil and gas industry are frequently very well paid, especially if you have the expertise or specialized training.
- Swift Promotion Factor: The potential for advancement is another perk. It’s possible to advance swiftly in this field if you’re ready to put in the effort.
- You Get to Travel: Working in this field may be a good fit if the idea of traveling for work excites you because you’ll frequently be traveling during your profession. It makes no difference if you are a skilled and seasoned oil refinery worker or do not work on a marine offshore drilling rig. The company will frequently move you to another refinery that your company runs in one of the many sites worldwide.
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The Cons
- The Tendency Of The Work Getting Depressing: In oil and gas production, there are tendencies the workers would feel lonely and alone. Because the work puts them far away from friends and family for extended periods, and drilling for hours at sea or working in a foreign refinery for months could make them slide into this state.
- High Risk Of Work Accidents: In the oil and gas industry, incidents involving fires, explosions, chemical inhalation, drilling and refining equipment, and other risks happen frequently.
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What Are The Skills Required To Succeed In A Career In Oil And Gas Production
For a career in oil and gas production, qualifications and technical experience are the basic requirements. However, one is required to have the following skills:
- Good communication skills
- Problem-solving skill
- Creative thinking
- IT skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Pressure absorbing skills or ability to work well under pressure
- Flexibility
- Ability to multitask
- Ability to manage projects and deliver promptly
- Leadership skills.
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What Are The Educational And Training Requirements For A Career In Oil And Gas Production?
The oil and gas production industry have unique educational and training requirements, much like any other industry. It should be highlighted that this does not require a college degree.
However, having studied topics in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) category is crucial for someone who wishes to enter this industry because they have a history of playing a significant role, and they can at least get one’s foot in the door.
The oil and gas production companies frequently seek out individuals with degrees in mathematics, physics, geology, and engineering (chemical, petroleum, mechanical, electrical, and environmental).
However, obtaining a particular practical qualification, such as one from an oil rig training program, is the quickest way to land an O&G position. These are made to provide HR and recruiters with a pool of qualified workers prepared to work in the oil field.
Remember that many of these are costly, and you must weigh the debt trade-off. In general, the courses are only valuable if already established recruitment partners exist.
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What Is The Salary And Job Outlook For A Career In Oil And Gas Production?
There is no disputing that employment in the oil and gas production industries pays well. The average yearly salary for an oil and gas industry working in the United States as of July 13, 2022, is $76,428.
If you need a quick pay estimator, that amounts to about $36.74 per hour. This amounts to $6,369 per month or $1,470 each week.
The job outlook for the oil and gas production industries is anticipated to expand by 8% between 2020 and 2030, which is about average for all occupations.
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How Much Can You Make From Oil And Gas Production?
Undoubtedly, work in the oil and gas production sector may pay extremely well. In reality, many roles not only contain a lot of bonuses and overtime payments that increase the pay packets even further, but the typical earnings are also among the highest in any industry.
Even still, contract labor is not even taken into account. However, the amount that can be made from a career in oil and gas production depends on the position employed.
It is, however, no news that people with a degree or certificate would earn more than those without.
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List Of Best Paying Jobs In Oil And Gas Production.
The best paying jobs in the oil and gas production sector are:
- Well Testers
- Chemical Engineer
- Petroleum Sales Representative
- Vessel Manager
- Production Engineer
- Gas Plant Operator
- HR Advisor
- Lease Operator
- Technical Directors
- Rig Welder
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What Companies are in the Oil And Gas Production Field?
The list of notable companies that are involved in oil and gas production is provided below.
Petrol AD
Type: Joint Stock Company
Founded: 1932
Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria
Revenue: US$3.12 billion.
Atlantic Petroleum
Type: Partafelag
Founded: 1998
Headquarters: Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Revenue: €422.5million(2010)
TotalEnergies
Type: Public (Societas Europaea)
Founded: 1924
Headquarters: Tour Total, Courbevoie, France
Revenue: US$184.678 billion.
Wintershall DEA
Type: German limited liability company (GmbH)
Founded: 1894
Headquarters: Kassel and Hamburg Germany
Revenue:€5.6 billion (2019)
Engie SA
Type: Société Anonyme
Founded In: 22 July 2008
Headquarters: La Défense, Courbevoie, France
Revenue: €60.1 billion (2019)
Prenco
Type: Independent
Founded In: 1975
Headquarters: London, Paris
How To Get Started In A Career In Oil And Gas Production.
A lot of information has been given in this article; from all that has been stated, anyone seeking to start a career in oil and gas production has to have the skills mentioned has to know the subjects in the STEM category.
It is advisable that he/she takes any of the free courses mentioned in this article and can also go for training such as the oil rig training program.
This is because most oil and gas production industries always want to employ experienced workers in their production industries.
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FAQs On Is Oil And Gas Production A Good Career Path
What is the main challenge faced by oil and gas production industries?
What is the main requirement to start a career in oil and gas production?
Do I need a college degree before I can have a career in oil and gas production?
Conclusion
The oil and gas production sector are very lucrative, and companies will always be interested in employing new experienced workers.
So to have a blissful career in oil and gas production, one would need to have the required skills and working or training experience to boost his/her chances.
After considering everything discussed, the answer to the question “Is oil and gas production a good career path?” is Yes.
References
- wikipedia.org — for the list of oil and gas production companies.
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