Marcellus Shale
The Marcellus Shale natural gas play is poised to dramatically change the face of Northeastern Pennsylvania in a comprehensive way not seen in recent generations since the start of extraction of Anthracite coal in the 1900’s. The Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is 160-250 feet thick and covers 95,000 square miles. In comparison, the Barnett Shale play in Texas covers 5,000 square miles and has produced 100,000 jobs. The green jobs impact from Marcellus Shale is long-term and critical to the region and we need to be prepared now.
Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce
Workforce Information
Resources for more information:
Oil and Gas General Resources
Oil and Gas & General Career Resources
Local Training
In the News
Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce
The Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce formed in late 2009 to identify the key issues, research facts, information and review and provide public education regarding the economic, environmental, and community impacts of oil and gas exploration of the Marcellus Shale in Wayne County. The Taskforce has seven active Subcommittees including: Government; Outreach; Environment; Economic Development; Workforce; Planning; and Public Safety. Ed Coar, Wayne County Director of Planning, is the Taskforce chairperson. Link to the Taskforce here for more information.
Workforce Subcommittee
Workforce Wayne chairs the Workforce Subcommittee of the Wayne County Oil and Gas Taskforce. The mission of the Workforce Subcommittee is to plan for workforce development related to Wayne County Marcellus Shale activity, including kindergarten through high school programming, as well as post-secondary training for students and adult workers. The Workforce Subcommittee meets on the 3rd Friday of every other month, 8-9am at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Community Room, 32 Commercial St, Honesdale, PA 18431. The 2011 meetings are April 15, June 17, Aug 19, Oct 21 and Dec 16.
Employment related to the natural gas extraction covers pre-drilling (geology studies, permitting, and staking the well), drilling & completion, and post-drilling (natural gas production, reclamation). Pipeline construction also spans the pre-drilling and drilling phases; length of time depends of the length needed. All of these phases cover a 20-30 year period. In the 12-county area, some drilling has already begun, but is expected to rise dramatically in the next 2-3 years. Best estimates are 2,000-3,000 horizontally dug wells will be seen in Pennsylvania.
The Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center report (2009) notes that there are 400 jobs in 150 occupations needed for a single well to be drilled, though these jobs are temporary to the drilling phase (less than 6 months typically). During post-drilling when natural gas is being produced, there is 0.17 of a permanent, full-time equivalent (FTE) position associated with each well (1 FTE per 6 wells). These jobs compound each year as more wells are drilled. In addition to these direct jobs, there are also what are called indirect jobs (water hauling, gravel, road construction, professional services) and induced jobs (local grocery store, restaurant, bank, insurance) associated with the industry.
The Keystone Energy Forum has compiled a listing of careers in the oil and gas industry which can be viewed here.
Resources for more information
OIL AND GAS GENERAL RESOURCES:
- Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development (http://www.institutepa.org/MarcellusShale.html)
The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development (formerly known as Joint Urban Studies Center), has offices in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The Institute mobilizes the resources of regional institutions of higher education to engage in regional research, strategy development, and impact reports.
Wilkes University, as the managing partner, collaborates closely with Keystone College, King's College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Pennsylvania State University/Wilkes-Barre, The Commonwealth Medical College, and the University of Scranton.
The Institute's Marcellus research begins in 2008 through present with its September 2010 baseline socioeconomic analysis for the PA residents living in the Marcellus Shale region.
Marcellus shale has the potential to affect many parts of Pennsylvania. This Web site is the official entry point for Penn State Cooperative Extension's educational and research materials about Marcellus shale, natural gas, and how it may affect the Commonwealth. Since 2001, we have been actively helping citizens, landowners, businesses, local governments, and others understand the opportunities and challenges arising from Marcellus shale. Let us help you, too.
The Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center (MSETC), a partnership of Penn State Cooperative Extension and Penn College of Technology, was established to provide the regional area and the natural gas industry with a central resource for workforce development and community education needs as related to the Marcellus Shale gas play.
Over the past few months, the MSETC has been meeting with Industry, Education, Government, and Regulatory players to work together to examine the expanding workforce of the natural gas industry and to determine the education and training needs required to support this expanding workforce. The Marcellus Shale Workforce Needs Assessment is an outcome of these meetings. Summer 2009 Workforce Needs Assessment Study.
- MSETC report direct links here:
OIL AND GAS & GENERAL CAREER RESOURCES:
The Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania (PIOGA) is the principal non-profit trade association representing Pennsylvania's Independent oil and natural gas producers, marketers, service companies and related businesses. The more than 800 PIOGA member companies drill and operates the majority of the state's natural gas wells and a significant number of its crude oil wells.
Link to PIOGA's Career Center (under "Member Services" tab) to post a resume or see PIOGA member job postings.
Great industry news and events site, featuring a Job Portal section with video clips of career options in the oil and gas industry.
Founded in 2008, the Marcellus Shale Coalition is an organization committed to the responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale geological formation and the enhancement of the region’s economy that can be realized by this clean-burning energy source.
The members of the coalition work with partners across the region to address issues with regulators, local, county, state and federal government officials and communities about all aspects of producing clean-burning, job-creating natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.
The Commonwealth Workforce Development System (CWDS) provides access to Pennsylvania workforce development and independent living services provided by the Departments of Labor & Industry and Public Welfare.
Who can use CWDS?
**Participants are Job seekers and other individuals seeking services. They can create résumés and match their skills, requirements and backgrounds with job openings.
**Employers can use CWDS to find qualified job applicants.
**Service or Training Providers can use CWDS to receive referrals of those seeking the services, programs or training they provide.
**Agency Staff use CWDS to track service delivery. This shared system streamlines service-provision and provides a comprehensive view of services provided to any individual.
Wayne and Pike County residents have access to one-on-one assistance with CWDS through offices in each county (click the previous Wayne/Pike links or see contact information here).
- Workforce Wayne specific resources
Be sure to also check out Workforce Wayne's employer database for profiles of many employers in Wayne and Pike Counties.You can also visit the Community Career & Training Sites at Wayne and Pike County libraries and community centers for computer access to career resources.
- Downhill Pipe Welding at Lackawanna CTC: 7/7/10-9/1/10
- Basic Cutting and Welding for Pressure Pipelines and Pipe Welding at Johnson College: Summer/Fall 2010. Also, Natural Gas Industry Candidate Survey here: Is the natural gas industry right for you? Wayne and Pike County residents may also qualify for a free 96-hour welding training program in Fall/Winter 2010. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 570-702-8924 for more information.
- Lackawanna College’s Natural Gas Technology degree: The two-year program leads to an associate in applied science degree. In addition, the college is offering a one-year certificate program for Accounting Clerk in Oil and Gas Industry at the new Lake Region Center in Hawley. Wayne and Pike County residents may also qualify for a grant to offset a portion of the certificate cost. Contact the Lake Region Center for more information.
- 06/07/11: Economic Modeling Specialists published the article "The Explosion of Oil and Gas Extraction Jobs".
- 04/01/11: An article published by The Marcellus Shale Coalition, "By the Numbers: The Mighty Marcellus, A Powerful Job Creation Engine"
- 03/27/11: Valley News Dispatch article "Marcellus shale boom offers Alle-Kiski Valley job opportunities". The article discusses local labor, work for local schools and career opportunities related to Marcellus Shale.
- 02/09/11: WJAC TV article "Students Train For Jobs In Marcellus Shale Drilling Industry"
- 02/09/11: MetroAction to host Marcellus Shale and Your Business Forum. Information on the program, location, and registration can be found by click here.
- 02/08/11: The Republican Herald article "Economic leaders: Schuylkill County workforce ready for possible Marcellus Shale jobs".
- 9/14/10: U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski has announced $1 million in federal funds will be awarded to create a local energy institute that will focus on natural gas drilling issues in the Marcellus Shale.The so-named Institute for Energy and Environmental Research of Northeast Pennsylvania will initially be on Wilkes' campus.
- 6/2/10: The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal article "Northern Tier Gas Drillers Still an under-served market". The article gives insight as to economic demands and workforce issues.
- 6/1/10: The Times-Tribune article on Luzerne County Community College planning for safety training for natural gas work.
- 5/5/10: The Wayne Independent article "$294,689 Grant to Fund Marcellus Shale Job Training".
- 2/24/10: Abington Journal article on new local training programs involving the gas industry in north central and northeast Pennsylvania.
- 2/23/10: NPR radio story "Natural Gas as a Climate Fix Sparks Friction" on the Sierra Club's position regarding natural gas as the cleanest hydrocarbon and an alternative to coal.