Story by Melinda Barton

Workers to Train in Oil and Gas Production Technology

Two Tulsa companies have joined forces with the Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Training Center at High Plains Technology Center in Woodward and other companies from across the southwest to train workers in Oil and Gas Production Technology.

"Sampson Resources of Tulsa has been very supportive from the beginning of our production training." said Ron Walsmith, director of oil and gas training. "Sampson has not only donated equipment for building on-campus training simulators but is sending employees to the center for training."

Another Tulsa business that has played a key role in building training simulators at the OGTC is the Arrow Engine Company. Pumping engines are in big demand and companies do not have uncommitted inventory due to the recent surge in oil prices. Consequently, Arrow Engine Company completely rebuilt a used engine that was donated by the Chesapeake Energy yard at Waynoka.

"When our staff first saw the rebuilt Arrow C-46 engine, they thought that it was a new engine. The rebuild was more of a renovation. The only indication that it was the same engine was the design of the engine's flywheel," said Walsmith.

Oil and Gas Production Training is offered at the Oil & Gas Training Center at no charge for tuition and books to both industry and individuals. Training costs are paid under a U.S. Department of Labor grant designed to strengthen the domestic upstream oil and gas industry.

"We are currently recruiting individuals from the public to take the 80-hour production training. We have openings for students in the September and October classes. Anyone wanting an application may go to the High Plains web site at www.hptc.net , download an application, and fax or mail it to our oil and gas recruiting and placement coordinator. The fax number is on the application," said Walsmith.

"We are talking about training for a career in oil and gas production not just a job. Our oil and gas production graduates typically find entry level jobs as roustabouts, pumpers, well tenders, gaugers, and field technicians. These positions typically have good benefits and are with companies that make a practice of promoting from within," said Fernanda Carment, the recruiting and placement coordinator.

"The production training and new training simulators are a natural follow-up to our highly successful oil and gas drilling and well servicing training said Walsmith. Since September of 2003, we have trained over 2000 persons for the drilling and well servicing industry said the director. Persons trained for these industries include incumbent workers and individuals from the general public," stated Walsmith.

The pumping unit component to the simulator was donated by Weatherford Completion & Oilfield Services in Woodward. The stock tanks came from Chesapeake Energy at Clinton. Other components for the training simulators came from several companies including Devon Energy, BP America, and Four K Services in Canadian, TX.

The new training simulators include cut-away versions of production equipment so that students can see the internal components. Superior Fabricating, Inc. of Canadian assisted with making the cut-away training models. Thurmond McGlothlin is donating meter runs for the well site training simulators.