Prospective Career Paths in the Oil & Gas Industry

A recent survey showed that almost 7 million Americans were employed in the energy sector, which is almost five out of every hundred working people and about 2% more than the previous year. The good news is that before employers are still hiring!

In the field of fuels, the oil and natural gas industry took on more than 18,000 new workers in 2019 and is expected to bring in even more the following year. All this means that there’s a high demand for oil and gas workers but reports also show that most HR departments are also struggling to find qualified workers.

Oil and gas companies have largely diversified and the jobs there are quite well-paid, interesting and come in a variety of shapes and sizes and locations. Because of constant technological development, workers in the oil and gas sector are advancing as well – they are constantly learning new skills, navigating the ever-changing updates, and expanding their knowledge to stay current.

These are the most prospective career paths you can consider in the oil and gas industry.

Reservoir engineer

Reservoir engineers utilize fluid science and geology to examine oil and gas reservoirs. They also help predict the financial potential of a certain reservoir by inspecting the amounts and behavior of natural gas, crude oil, and water in rock formations.

Drilling engineer

The job of a drilling engineer is to ensure safe and economic drilling. These engineers design well-drilling protocols in a way that will minimize expenses but maximize output without endangering workers’ safety or environmental integrity, and ensure the best selection of oilfield equipment.

Exploration geologist

Exploration geologists search for oil or gas in rock formations. Their job may require them to live and work outdoors, traveling, exploring nature, and handling specialized equipment. They may also work in an office studying images created by satellites and remote-sensing instruments to establish likely hydrocarbon deposits. They utilize their expert knowledge of geology and environmental science to enhance affordable access to energy.

Mudlogger

Mudloggers is a fitting name for a hands-on-the-earth job. These workers collect samples of rock to describe and record it. By examining samples with expert equipment, they interpret the geology of a given site. Their work aids drilling engineers in making decisions about the speed and depth of prospective drilling.

Oil and gas attorney

Lawyers in the oil and gas sector handle property and mineral rights. This refers to the ownership of the land below which oil and gas exist, the rights to mine and drill for it, and what conditions are necessary for extraction. Attorneys in this industry help resolve the permits, leases, property boundaries, and split estates – the case when property landowners sell the oil and gas rights on their land but retain the land itself.

Carbon and sustainability manager

Sustainability has become such a burning issue in the world today that most of the industry has embraced the sustainability goals set up by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Conforming to these goals leads to better efficiencies, cost savings and higher competitiveness, and more advanced social license to function. For instance, the oil and gas industry can be an essential part of the solution to tackle climate change through the handling of mitigation technologies such as carbon capture, storage and utilization.

Oil and gas regulatory inspector

A number of government agencies as well as countless state, provincial, and regional authorities employ regulatory inspectors whose job is to ensure adherence to legislation regarding land usage. They also oversee the environmental impact of drilling operations and make sure the drilling sites are safe for everyone involved - workers, community members, and the environment.

Oil and gas governmental affairs

As oil and gas regulations change quickly, the oil and gas extraction companies want to be involved in monitoring, but they also attempt to influence those changes. Professionals in governmental affairs are familiar with the legislative environment and they give advice to legislators on the effects of proposed rule changes, and also oil and gas executives on given regulations.

Oil and gas accountant

Similar to accountants in other industries, oil and gas accountants keep financial records and issue financial statements. They can also handle tax calculations, create and track budgets or maintain a company balance sheet.

The growing oil and gas sector is in need of professionals with a wide array of skills, interests and backgrounds. The industry offers employment possibilities both for people who like the predictable nine-to-five positions and for those who love hands-on, outdoors work. The sector welcomes a wide diversity of people — extroverts, introverts, workers with advanced degrees but also talented, trade-oriented people with not much formal education.