This booklet has been produced by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in consultation with Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and industry partners. Our aim is to assist northern people in planning and making career decisions. This is part of a series of information booklets being produced by the Career Development Division in an attempt to promote education and career opportunities across the various sectors in the Northwest Territories.

These sector booklets will provide current and accurate northern labour market information that will help you to make your career decisions. I encourage you to consider them when exploring and researching your options.

The Honourable Charles Dent
Minister of Education, Culture & Employment

INTRODUCTION

The Northwest Territories has an eighty year history in the oil and gas industry. Since oil was discovered in Norman Wells in 1914, the industry has had an exciting ride with cycles of high activity through to times of very little work. Along the way, the oil and gas deposits in the Beaufort Delta, along the Mackenzie River and in the Deh Cho region have had significant economic benefits for the surrounding communities and have created work and training opportunities for many northerners. Partnerships between government, aboriginal people and industry could allow the Northwest Territories to develop into an important producer of petroleum resources for Canada in the future. The renewed exploration in the Fort Liard area shows high potential for oil and gas development, and promises jobs and opportunities in the industry for years to come.

WHAT IS THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY?

This industry is involved in the finding, drilling for, production, shipping, refining and selling of crude oil and natural gas deposits found beneath the earth's surface. These natural resources are found either in liquid (oil) or air (gas) form and are used to produce heating and motor oils, propane, gasoline, kerosene, butane, methane, benzene and tars. These are primarily used around the world as fuel - to heat houses and to power vehicles and machinery. Oil and gas products are also used in detergents, insecticides, wax, asphalt, aerosols and refrigerators.

FINDING THE OIL AND GAS

Initial exploration involves subsurface geological mapping and seismic activity to find potential petroleum deposits. This work may happen several years before drilling activity. Seismic lines are cut through the forest, sometimes for several miles. Crews work along these seismic lines drilling shot holes. The holes are loaded with explosives. These blasts send sound waves into the ground. The sound waves bounce off hard rock layers and return to the surface. Electronic phones record these sound waves to help determine the size and shape of the rock below the surface. Oil and gas are usually found in sandstone or limestone under a harder "cap" rock such as shale.

IS IT WORTH DRILLING A WELL?

Seismic information may give a good indication of potential petroleum deposits. An actual well has to be drilled to confirm that there is oil or gas. These deposits are often filled with only salt water. Getting resources out of the ground can be very expensive and companies must decide if the deposit is worth the risk and costs of drilling. If the well is drilled and it looks good, steel casing will be run to allow production. If the well is not good, they will plug the hole with cement and move onto another drilling site.

PREPARING THE SITE

A drilling location requires an area of land cleared and leveled to accommodate the drilling rig and a camp for the work crews. Roads are built to these locations so that the rig and supplies can be trucked in. Often in remote areas, an airstrip is also built to be used for crew and supply flights. This wellsite area and road would also be used throughout the producing life of the well, to accommodate production equipment, storage tanks and the wellhead equipment.

GETTING THE OIL & GAS OUT OF THE GROUND

Drilling rigs have to dig thousands of feet below the ground to reach the petroleum deposits. Many services are required to get the well drilled. Some of these include: wellsite geologists, water haulers, welders and mechanics, cementing crews, casing suppliers and truckers, and road grading and maintenance personnel. Rig crews consist of a driller, derrick hand, motor hand and roughnecks. The rig operates 24 hours a day utilizing 2 or 3 crews.

When petroleum is discovered the drilling rig moves away and a service rig and a new crew is needed to get production to the surface and to market. Some of these services include: service rig crew, production testers, fluid trucking services, wellhead and production equipment suppliers, pipeline crews, and production well operators.

SHIPPING THE OIL & GAS

Both oil and gas have to be handled with extreme caution. Most of the time pipelines are used to transport the natural resources to the refinery or the place where they will be sold. People are needed to build the pipelines and bury them in the ground for protection of both the pipeline and the environment. A different one is needed for oil and gas. If the site is near the ocean, large tankers transport the oil and gas in bulk.

REFINING THE OIL & GAS

After the oil and gas have been taken out of the ground they need to be refined before they can be used. Refining means to remove all of the impurities that are found. Then the oil and gas can be sold to other companies where it can be made into fuel or gasoline or other products.

WATCHING THE ENVIRONMENT

Studies must be done to make sure that the plants, animals and water surrounding the drilling sites will not be disturbed. Companies must try to leave the site as close as possible to what it was like before the camp opened. They must reforest any areas they cleared and clean up any oil spills. This reclamation work is done by people trained in renewable resources and environmental management. There are very strict rules so that there are very few environmental effects from exploration and drilling work.

WILL THERE BE JOBS IN THE OIL& GAS INDUSTRY?

Although the oil and gas industry has high and low cycles of activity and jobs, right now things are booming in the NWT. There is a continual increase in demand for petroleum products worldwide. New technology has led to increased output and fewer adverse environmental effects. The NWT has one half of Canada's estimated potential petroleum. Eleven new exploration licenses have been issued recently, the majority in the Mackenzie Valley and southern NWT. Each company that received a license has to drill at least one well by the end of four years. Many of the deposits are located near existing pipelines and highways so transportation and building costs won't be as great. Residents may see long term business opportunities and jobs in exploration activities and in services that support the oil and gas industry.

WHAT JOBS WILL THERE BE IN OIL & GAS?

There are many different types of jobs associated with the oil and gas industry and they all have different requirements. It is important to remember that the more training and education you have, the higher the level of job you can get. Skills learned in the oil and gas industry are transferable to other careers.

ENTRY LEVEL JOBS

These jobs require little or no previous experience. Some companies provide on-the-job training. You must be able to read and write, though some require at least a grade 12 level of education.

SKILLED JOBS

These jobs require that you be able to read and have previous experience.

OFFICE WORKERS

For these jobs you must have at least a grade 12 education and have some training or experience.

TECHNICAL JOBS

These jobs need a technical college certificate or diploma. Generally, these are one or two year programs.

SEMI-PROFESSIONAL JOBS

These jobs usually require a college diploma although it is possible to work your way up to these positions through work experience and on the job training.

PROFESSIONAL JOBS

These jobs require you have a university degree.

JOBS SERVING THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

There are many other jobs that are associated with the oil and gas industry. A lot of companies sub-contract out different parts of the process. You can create your own opportunities by providing goods and services to the industry. Some examples of jobs related to oil and gas are:

• Expediting
• Security
• Equipment Rental
• Cooking/Catering
• Painter/Drywaller
• Labour Pool Coordinator
• Pilot/Transportation
• Fuel Supply and Haul
• Trucking
• Supply of Explosives/Chemicals
• Geophysical Surveying
• Camp Management
• Camp Construction
• Remote Communications
• Supplying Materials

WORKING CONDITIONS

Much of the work in the oil and gas industry is physically demanding, with loud and heavy equipment, so you must be in good shape. A lot of the work is done out of doors. Workers live in camps that vary in size from a few people to over 100. Most of the camps are fly in fly out with access from various communities. Exploration is conducted year round with the majority done between November and March when ground conditions are frozen. Once drilling activity begins, the well runs 24 hours a day; crews usually work 8 hour shifts. There are currently active wells in Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Fort Liard. There is a lot of exploration activity going on in the Mackenzie Valley and southern NWT.

WHERE TO GET TRAINING

AURORA COLLEGE AND NUNAVUT ARCTIC COLLEGE

Both northern colleges offer a variety of courses that could help you to get a job in the oil and gas industry. Some of these courses are: Office Administration, Management Studies, Nursing, Natural Resources Technology, Heavy Equipment Operator, Carpentry, Welding, Plumbing, and Small Business Management.

ON THE JOB TRAINING Industry has made commitments to provide courses and on the job training for the northern workers they hire. Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) offers programs for people already working in the industry.

SOUTHERN COLLEGES

Other programs that could be taken at colleges in the south are: Survey Technician, Chemical Engineering Technology, Process Operations, Geology, Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation, and Environmental Science. Check with your regional Career Centre for college information.

UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

For professional jobs in oil and gas, a university degree is required. There are many Canadian universities that offer courses. These would mostly be in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, Geography, Biology, and Engineering. Academic programs for professions common to most large businesses such as Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Management, and Accounting could also lead to employment. It is best to check out the university calenders at regional Career Centres.

APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

Apprenticeship is usually a four year training program where you take short courses and get paid to train on the job. When you are finished, you may become a certifed tradesperson. Once certified, you make more money, are able to work on your own, can train others, and can find jobs more easily. To start an apprenticeship you must find an employer who is willing to train you in your chosen trade.

You could take apprenticeship training for some jobs in the oil and gas industry if you meet the minimum requirements:

These are the minimum requirements. The more education you have, the greater the chance of being successful. The Schools North Apprenticeship Program allows students to begin an apprenticeship while at the same time continuing their high school courses.

For help in getting a start as an apprentice please read up on Apprenticeship Opportunities or consult you regional Career Centre.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A JOB IN OIL & GAS

Send your resume and a cover letter to all of the companies or organizations where you would like to work. Make sure to indicate which job or jobs you are interested in and why you think you are qualified for those jobs. The Career Centres are able to help you to prepare for your job search.

CAREER PLANNING

To be successful in life, it is important to plan your career. Your "career" is the total of all your life experiences. Career planning is an ongoing process from youth through adulthood where you look at what are the best decisions for you based on who you are, what training and education you want, and what opportunities are available. By finding the best fit between your interests, skills and values, and the what jobs are available, you will have more control over your life, and you will experience more success.

For more information or assistance with career planning and decision making, contact your local Career Centre or Adult Educator.

Remember your future depends on your efforts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you are interested in a job in the oil and gas industry, or in finding out about training courses and programs, there are many sources of information. Talk to anyone who works in the industry or contact the companies directly.