Fuel in the form of oil and gas is an essential commodity in our daily lives. Oil and gas work is the collective term used for the tasks carried out by professionals who are skilled and trained in the extraction of mineral ores from underneath the earth's surface. Various job positions such as drillers, mining technicians, engineers and geologists are involved in the oil and gas industry.
In most cases, the natural mineral ores extracted from the mining sites are temporarily stored and then sent to a particular plant for refinement purposes. Different types of functions are carried out during different stages of the oil and gas extraction. Most of the primary sources of energy such as petroleum and natural gas are obtained using these methods. This is an important line of work because of the importance of oil and gas in the daily activities of humans and the rapidly increasing demand for energy in its various forms.
Description
Different types of oil extraction procedures such as oil drilling rigs, underwater extraction and oil field drilling are used to extract the natural ores present beneath the surface of the earth. On the basis of scientific data and analysis, geologists and scientists determine the specific site where extraction work has to be carried out. Engineers design the extraction rigs, which are tailored in order to suit the needs of a specific extraction site. Drillers and machine handlers are in charge of the implementation as well as maintenance work of the equipment such as drills, mud pumps, etc. Basic level workers carry out manual labor work around the oil extraction sites.
Skills
Possessing good knowledge about the different functionalities of the oil and gas industry is essential for any person in this field of work. Geologists and engineers must possess excellent analytical and organizational skills in order to perform their job duties in an efficient manner. Machine and equipment handlers should have good knowledge about the tools that they use while carrying out their work. Basic level workers, who are also known as roustabouts should be in excellent physical condition as their job can be physically demanding.
Requirements
A bachelor's degree in geology is essential for those looking to pursue a career as a geologist. Those with a master's degree are often preferred in some cases. Additional certification programs also help in giving an edge to the candidate's profile over other candidates. Oil and gas engineers should have a bachelor's in engineering degree with specialization in oil extraction or other related subjects. A business administration degree is often necessary for career advancement purposes. For those working in lower job positions, educational qualifications are not considered as important as prior work experience in the field and knowledge about the functioning of the different machines involved.
Work Conditions
Professionals working in this field have to often face adverse conditions while working on the oil fields and extraction rigs. As it is mainly an outdoor job, exposure to varying weather conditions throughout the year. Roustabouts have to carry equipment and other heavy loads from one place to another. Those working on offshore oil rigs have to work on site for several months at a stretch, while those who commute daily to oil fields and mines work for around 40 hours in a week. Working overtime is a common practice in oil and gas work.
Salary and Benefits
The salaries of those working in this field greatly vary from one position to another. An oil field manager can earn upwards of $135,000 depending on various factors. Geologists earn anywhere between $55,000 and $75,000 depending up a number of different factors such as experience, qualifications and specific organization. The average salary of oil drill workers and those working in similar profiles is around $42,000. Most oil and gas workers also receive additional benefits in the form of paid vacations, sick leaves, health insurance plans and pension plans.
Thus, oil and gas work is a good option for those looking to pursue their careers in this field. It has a number of job opportunities and career advancement options at various job levels.