Amid a decline in the oil and gas industry, Lone Star College-Creekside Center began offering a petroleum data technology program this spring. While many local companies are laying off employees and practicing hiring freezes, adjunct professor Nicholas Hernandez said there is no better time than during a downturn to prepare individuals for the industry.
“When the oil industry is booming, a lot of oil companies and service companies unfortunately have a practice of grabbing warm bodies to fill a slot, and the warm bodies aren’t necessarily trained or know what they’re getting into,” he said. “The advantage of getting training during a downturn is you’re not going to get a job anyway in the oil field now, so go back to school [and] get some training. When things pick back up, you’ll have that step up on everyone else.”
LSC-Creekside Center offers classes required for the two-year, 60-credit-hour petroleum data technology associate degree of applied science and the one-year, 30-credit-hour petroleum data technology certification program. Both programs are also available at LSC-Cy-Fair, and courses required for the certification program are available at LSC-Tomball.
“Students who graduate from here with either the certificate or the degree have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on whatever company they’re going to go work for,” Hernandez said. “They’re going to be more productive; they’re going to make their bosses happier; they’re going to get promoted faster and be able to contribute to the team more efficiently.”
Steven Nordenstrom, a Houston resident, is pursuing an associate degree in petroleum data technology and takes night classes at LSC-Creekside Center with hopes of career advancement as he works in the information technology side of the oil and gas industry.
“I just find the industry fascinating, so I want to stick with it, and since this program is data and I deal with data, I thought it’d be an easy transition,” Nordenstrom said.
Nordenstrom said the petroleum data technology program prepares students to support the people with advanced degrees, such as geophysicists and engineers.
“You’re not the engineer with a bachelor’s degree, but you work with them,” he said.
According to Lone Star College System’s program overview, petroleum data technology is an information technology field of study specializing in measuring, recording or evaluating geological data using sonic, electronic, electrical, seismic or gravity-measuring instruments to prospect for oil or gas.
Hernandez said students gain experience by using industry software programs and interpreting well logs, graphs and samples that show where oil may be found.
The petroleum data technology program can be completed in two years, or about six semesters, culminating in a capstone project or petroleum technology internship. Night classes are also available at LSC-Creekside Center, which allows individuals like Nordenstrom to pursue career advancement while working in the industry.
Hernandez said he does not think the oil industry will be in a downturn for long, because oil will continue to be a necessary component of everyday products—from insulated electric wires to shoes, roads and shampoo—even if the need for petroleum in fuel decreases.
“There’s going to be opportunities for people who go through this program to go in the industry because they’ll have fresh training, a fresh attitude, and they’ll be able to replace less productive portions of the workforce,” Hernandez said. “Anyone who’s interested in having a career in the oil industry anytime in the future should take advantage of this now while they have the opportunity.”
8747 W. New Harmony Trail, Tomball 832-761-6600 www.lonestar.edu/creekside-center
