Natural Gas Workforce Training Offered Locally

Potter County Education Council is offering training for natural gas industry employment at its facilities in the Seneca Highlands Vocational Technical School in Port Allegany.

For dates and additional information, call 814-545-1333. These training options are being scheduled:

Certified Well Tender with CDL (240 + Hours): This six-week course is supported by more than 35 gas companies in Pennsylvania that have provided input into its content and have hired graduates from this program in other locations.  Key topics covered will be: processes basic to producing, transporting and distributing natural gas; safety; properties of fuel gases; controlling and preventing gas-fueled fires; storage wells; use of combustible gas indicators and pipe locating equipment, and maintenance and patrolling of facilities.  This course also prepares the student for a Class A CDL license with both classroom and behind-the-wheel experience.  Six firms have guaranteed everyone who passes the course at least one interview.  Typical jobs filled by a certified well tender include lease hand, pumper/well tender, derrick hand, tanker driver, hydrofracturing crew member, equipment operator, rig hand, roughneck, production foreman and roustabout. Course fee is $7,995.

Certified Natural Gas and Oil Facility Technician: This three-week course covers the same topics as above, without the CDL component.  Fee is $5,980.

CDL Certification:  This three-week, 160-hour comprehensive training program culminates in the awarding of a Commercial Driver’s License by the state of Pennsylvania. Week one is classroom-based, covering mapping, trip planning, and log books. Weeks two and three consist of range and road training in straight line backing, alley dock parking, parallel parking, coupling and uncoupling and air brakes, as well as driving on highways, city and rural roadways. Final two days are used for the CDL exam and review. Cost for this course is $4,995.