Locations for Oil and Gas Careers

Oil and gas careers can be found in many parts of the world. For those who love to travel, there are opportunities in many countries. Whether you live in North America, Russia, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East, you can find oil and gas careers in your area of specialty. Now is the right time to get your foot in the door to the wide variety of oil and gas careers.

The areas of eastern and southeastern Texas became known for oil in the early 1900s when oil seeps were found. The boom is still going strong with many oil and gas careers based in Texas. The weather in Texas is variable. It can range from humid to subtropical to rainy to snowy. The eastern portion of Texas is especially rainy; it averages 87 inches of rainfall each year. It is also known for cloudy days and fog.

Oil and gas careers can also take you to nearby Oklahoma. Oklahoma was known as the world's largest oil producer in 1907 when the oil industry began booming. Many boom towns were created with many individuals looking for oil and gas careers in order to strike it rich. The oil boom not only laid roots in Oklahoma, but also created a booming petroleum industry in neighboring states. For those looking for oil and gas careers in Oklahoma, expect hot summers and cold winters with a lot of drought.

Alaska is another top producer of oil. For those willing to brave the cold winters, Alaska is home to many oil and gas careers. Although Alaska is known for its snow and extremely cold temperatures, expect fairly warm summer temperatures and low humidity. However, the average temperature can still be quite cool, so sweaters or light jackets are often needed. Oil and gas careers in Alaska will be increasing in the next several years as efforts are ramping up to find new oil resources. In addition, new oil pipeline projects are in the works.

In terms of oil production, Canada ranks sixth in the world. Petroleum is a major industry in Canada with Canada being the United States' largest source of imported oil. Therefore, for those looking for oil and gas careers, Canada is a good place to look. Most of the drilling is in the province of Alberta. In Alberta alone, approximately 100 new wells are drilled every day. For those interested in oil and gas careers in Canada, it is important to know that the climate is variable. Cold temperatures and light rain can be found in the north with the south seeing high amounts of rain. In general, the country has cold winters and warm and short summers.

Russia's increase in oil production in the past decade has contributed to its economy. The natural gas industry in Russia is booming with Russia now the top producer of natural gas. Those looking for oil and gas careers in Russia have good chances of obtaining a job in the country because of the boom. The temperatures are extreme, with not much moderation. For those looking for oil and gas careers in Russia, a high tolerance for freezing temperatures is needed. Most of the oil production is in Western Siberia where the average temperature is below freezing.

The Middle East is known for having most of the world's oil reserves. For those looking for oil and gas careers, they are in abundance here. The summers are especially hot and dry; a temperature exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit is not uncommon. In the desert, sandstorms are common with the area experiencing an average of 38 per year. Although the winters are generally mild with little rain, the weather can be severe in the mountains. Most of the oil production is in the desert of Saudi Arabia, so those looking for oil and gas careers in this area would need to be accustomed to extremely hot temperatures.

Due to Asia's size, the climate varies widely. In Central Asia, the winters are very cold. Most of the area is desert. Summers are usually short and hot with little rain. There are many oil and gas careers in Asia, especially in China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

Egypt's climate is pretty standard: hot summers and mild winters. It is usually warm during the day and cool at night. Egypt has many oil and gas careers in the petrochemical sector.

Europe, for the most part, experiences all four seasons. Countries along the coast have a maritime climate while the south has a Mediterranean climate. The east has dry and cool weather. Most of Europe's oil and gas careers are in the United Kingdom.

Fields within the Oil and Gas Industry

One of the interesting things about oil and gas careers is that there are jobs for virtually anyone. Believe it or not, the petroleum industry offers careers in a variety of fields. You don't have to work out in the fields and operate technical machinery. You can work oil and gas careers in an office environment if you prefer. Jobs in human resources, sales, and marketing can be found in most industries, including the petroleum industry. However, if you are looking for more traditional oil and gas careers, there are many to choose from.

Oil and gas careers are categorized by five main fields: petroleum engineering, oil rig jobs, pipeline jobs, refinery jobs and geoscience careers. Engineering, geology, and chemistry are specialized careers that require a strong background in math and physics. In addition, these types of oil and gas careers sometimes require a master's degree. If you're the academic type who loves school, then this may be the right path for you. However, if you're not a star student but love to work hard, then working in the oil fields performing physical labor may be the better choice for you. Whichever path you choose, rest assured that you will have an exciting and stable career in the petroleum industry. Another perk of oil and gas careers is that they offer high pay and benefits. Although the hours may be long and you may be away from your family for long stretches of time, you will be paid well for your efforts.