High Plains Technology Center Oil and
Gas Training Underway

By Melinda Barton,
High Plains Tech Center

January marked the first oil and gas training class open to the general population held in the state at High Plains Technology Center in Woodward.

The class is part of the Oil and Gas Training grant awarded to High Plains last summer by the U.S. Department of Labor. Jamie Allen is the instructor for the class which lasts five days (40 hours).

The Department of Labor has designated the technology center as the official mid-continental training site, said Ron Walsmith, High Plains’ director of oil and gas training. The area assigned to the school includes Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle and Kansas. “The objective of the grant is simply to strengthen the oil and gas industry,” Walsmith said.

Training includes floorhand training for well servicing and floorhand training for oil and gas drilling, according to Walsmith. Floorhand training for oil and gas production includes certification in CPR/First Aid, forklift operations and RigPass. Courses in oil and gas production are on the drawing board. There is no charge for the training.

“There is a great probability of being hired once you’ve completed the program,” Walsmith said.

For more information on participating in the training, contact John Paine, oil and gas recruitment and placement coordinator at 580-571-6124.