WVNCC to Offer Gas Job Training
College says it will hold informational meetings in April
Wheeling WV Intelligencer
10 March
2011
By Casey Junkins
WHEELING - Those looking for jobs in the Marcellus Shale natural gas
drilling business are in luck, as West Virginia Northern Community
College will soon offer training for the work.
Even though they are unsure how many local jobs ultimately will result
from the burgeoning gas industry, Dave Knuth and Terry Sterling are
convinced the rush will generate enough activity to "upgrade everyone's
economy."
Oglebay Park's Wilson Lodge hosted a Wednesday business expo to allow
gas drillers such as Chesapeake Energy to interact with local
businesses, giving area vendors a chance to make their pitches in hopes
of attracting business from the drillers.
"There is potential for a huge economic impact from the Marcellus
Shale," said Sterling, president of the Wheeling Area Chamber of
Commerce. "They are really just getting started in this area."
"This can be an upgrade to everyone's economy," said Knuth, president
of the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. "Look at what the oil rush
did for Dallas and all of Texas."
One of the primary concerns many have expressed is that gas drillers
operating in the area are bringing employees from Texas, Louisiana,
Oklahoma and other states to work in West Virginia. Local union leaders
and local legislators believe the gas companies need to hire more local
workers.
After consulting with Chesapeake and other gas companies, WVNCC
officials decided to offer the courses. Training to be available at the
New Martinsville campus will include courses for deck hands,
roustabouts, welders and truck drivers.
J. Michael Koon, vice president of Economic and Workforce Development
for WVNCC, said informational meetings should begin in April. Koon can
be reached at mkoon@ wvncc.edu for more information.
"We need to get people in on the entry level so they can get some
experience," he said. "Some of the jobs are so specific that they would
need to be trained on a specific drilling rig at a particular well
site."
During a recent conference in Charleston, Chesapeake CEO Aubrey
McClendon said his company plans to invest as much as $50 billion in
the Mountain State to extract and develop natural gas over the next
several years. McClendon noted, however, that the company is having a
hard time finding skilled employees to work at its West Virginia
operations.
He even said about 30 percent of those applying for jobs with
Chesapeake fail the firm's drug test.
Koon said consulting with Chesapeake, WorkForce West Virginia and local
chambers of commerce is allowing the school to create applicable
curriculum.
Doug Patterson, a development specialist for the Wetzel County Chamber
of Commerce, said the Marcellus rush is a "great opportunity to take
advantage of our natural resources."
"There are always going to be isolated incidents of things going
wrong," Patterson said regarding concerns about possible water
contamination, air pollution, explosions and traffic accidents related
to natural gas drilling.
As for the expo, Knuth said gas companies need work clothing, boots,
piping, welding equipment, gloves, fittings, fire protection equipment,
financial services suppliers and chiropractors.
"Welding a 24-inch pipe together while having to climb down in a hole
is hard on your back," Knuth said.
Bridgeport Equipment and Tool was one firm on hand that showed off a
mannequin wearing examples of fire-resistant clothing the company
offers for sale to gas drillers. Other local companies represented
included United Bank and the McLure Hotel.
The Wednesday event was sponsored by Chesapeake, Project BEST and the
Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel chambers.