Natural Gas Industry Jobs

The oil and gas industry is one of the largest in the world and natural gas plays a vital role in the world's total energy supply for many good reasons. Of all the energy sources available, it's one of the safest, cleanest and most versatile, making it an extremely important piece of the U.S. economy. And if that wasn't enough, the gas industry is constantly growing, which means that new jobs are being created to satisfy that growth.

The laws, rules and regulations regarding natural gas have been changing over the years, trying to keep up with the advancements made in technology. In many ways the changes have been drastic and allowed much more competition, which has proven to be favorable for the economy and the job market. For instance, because wellheads are no longer regulated, the price of natural gas now depends on supply and demand, and an increase in demand equals an increase in open jobs. Natural gas is traditionally extracted from oil fields, but technology is expanding every day and continuing to push new limits as new advancements hit the market. For example, a few years ago it wasn't feasible to extract shale gas effectively, but modern advancements have now made it possible.

Jobs in the Gas Industry

Although in the past, the gas industry has been as volatile and combustible as the gas itself, the world is advancing and changing, and the industry must follow suit. And though we now have a better understanding of the behaviors of natural gas in all its states, it's much more complex than most people realize. Because of this, the job market is saturated with open jobs for qualified individuals. From entry-level positions to positions that require advanced degrees and specialized training, natural gas is a vast and diverse job field.

Jobs in the natural gas field can be manual in nature and performed in the field. This can include drilling or pipeline jobs, or both. But there is also a need for civil, mechanical, chemical and mathematical engineers. There are as many advanced positions in the gas industry as there are entry- level jobs.

Whether you love the math aspect of the field and want to make improvements in flow rates and emission levels, or you want to work in the field and walk pipelines, there is likely a job that is suited for you.  If you are just looking to get started in the field or have already completed advanced education classes, there are an abundance of jobs in the natural gas industry.

Did you know? There are over 6,300 producers of natural gas in the U.S. They range from global producers to small one or two-person operations. The largest integrated production companies are termed 'Majors', and there are 21 of these in the United States.

Natural Gas Process Overview

The process of getting natural gas out the ground and into a state that can be used is quite complicated.

Let's take a quick look at the process. Keep in mind that in this process there are different types of jobs at every step.

• Exploration: This step involves first finding the gas fields and then deciding where the best place to drill is.
• Extraction: Next, the gas must be moved from the ground to the surface. Drilling is the main focus of this step.
• Production: Once the well has been drilled, this step starts the processing once it is safely stored on the surface.
• Transport: This involves the massive network of pipelines across the U.S. in addition to the global network that transports the gas both from the wellhead and the processing plant.
• Storage: This addresses how and where the natural gas is stored.
• Distribution: The gas must be delivered from the pipeline to the end user, both for commercial and personal uses.
• Marketing: A behind the scenes step in the process, but just as important as all of the others

Did You Know? There are over 530 natural gas processing plants in the United States, and they process nearly 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and extract 630 million barrels of natural gas liquids a year.

Natural Gas Technology and the Environment

Natural gas is nothing new to us or our planet. In fact, most of the natural gas that we extract from the earth is millions of years old.

It's hard to believe that something so old can have such a direct effect on our daily lives, but it does. It's a good thing that we're still making advancements in ways to find it, process it and use it. One of the major ways that the industry has advanced is by learning to be environmentally friendly in the process. As we become more and more technologically advanced, we have learned how different industries can impact the environment and have made changes accordingly. The gas industry is no different, and it has gone to great lengths to ensure that the environment is not harmed.

All of these advancements create jobs and ensure job security to those entering the field.  A safer industry is better for everyone, and if you go to work in it, you can rest assure that every new technology is being put to use to make this industry better for everyone.

Now that you understand a bit about natural gas and all that is involved in processing it, we'll take a close look at oil and gas pipeline jobs.

Natural Gas Jobs Overview Summary

• Gas is one of the largest industries on the planet.
• Natural gas is one of the cleanest and safest fuels available.
• Diversity in job positions is available, from engineering to marketing to working in the field.
• Technological advancements have taken place, both in the industry itself, as well as in environmental safety.
• This ever changing industry promises growth and stamina throughout the decades as we find better ways to use natural gas

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