Natural Gas Production Jobs Continue to Increase

The United States is in the middle of a quiet energy revolution. While we strive to convert our economy to renewable energy, it is natural gas that will be powering the country in the meantime.

We now have more natural gas than we know what to do with, thanks to a new technology called directional drilling and the discovery of vast reservoirs of natural gas such as the Marcellus shale, Barnett shale, Haynesville shale and Eagle Ford shale.

Experts have estimated that we now have over one hundred years worth of clean natural gas in the United States. Natural gas may one day power our vehicles, trucks, trains and even planes thanks to a technology called “gas to liquids” which enables natural gas to be converted to gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Shale reservoirs have been known about by petroleum companies for decades but never seriously considered as a source of production since traditionally drilled wells could not expose enough of the reservoir to produce any real amount of gas. Directionally drilled horizontal wells can expose thousands of feet of reservoir profile and  increase natural gas production to an economically viable level.

What Kind Of Natural Gas Jobs Are Being Created?

For years the only jobs available in rural areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia were in the coal mining industry. Coal mining left many scars across this rugged land and unfortunately no real lasting economic benefits. Low wages were typically paid by mining companies and profits from production often were invested elsewhere. 

The discovery of one of the biggest natural gas reservoirs on earth, the Marcellus Shale, underneath much of the Northeastern United States may provide more lasting economic benefits. The reason for this is that unlike coal, for which entire mountains are removed, a natural gas well occupies only a small amount of real estate, as little as a couple hundred square feet of area once it is drilled and continue to produce for years. Natural gas wells in the Marcellus shale are predicted to produce for decades before depleting.

These wells require production employees called pumpers or gaugers who inspect the wells and verify daily production. A gauger or pumper may take care of twenty or more gas wells. His or her duties may involve checking the level of produced condensate or water in tanks with a hand held gauging tape (hence the name) and doing routine maintenance on gas dehydrators, separators, pumps and other equipment.