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Housing for Oil and Gas Workers

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housing for oil and gas workersFind Your Happy Place – 5 Star Housing for Oil and Gas Workers in Remote Areas

If there is one thing that can keep oil and gas employees who work on a remote site happy, it’s premium accommodations.  Since most oil and gas industry remote-area workers originate from distant places, they want to replicate their own home environment as much as possible. Included are a few suggestions to reach that goal.

Feeling Special

When hard working employees feel special and appreciated, they’re one step closer to being loyal to their employer.  Keep in mind, it might not take much for an employee that required a large amount of resources to find, to jump ship to the competing company if the quality of life they’re subjected to is representative of a cost-cutting manoeuver by the accounting department.

Start Here

Providing at least 60% of home-like conditions is a good starting place. The idea of a ‘home away from home’ really resonates with oil and gas workers when they can come home to a fully functional residential unit. The kind of accommodations referred to goes beyond the motel experience and may be just shy of a four-star semi-luxury hotel stay.

Wish List

There are a few ‘must-haves’ for worker accommodations. This means the heart of the unit must have a kitchen – complete with a microwave oven, a good size refrigerator (not a mini-bar fridge), large sink with a filtered-water dispenser, table and chairs, and a pantry to store their non-perishable groceries.

The living area should have at least a 40”HDTV, and an entertainment center complete with CD, DVD, and MP4 players.  There should be a self-service laundry room nearby, as well as a gym and fitness center with advanced equipment, and an internet café with Wi-Fi throughout the complex. Sleeping accommodations should include a full-size bed (not a single or twin) in a bedroom with a decent amount of storage.

Talent Pool

It is crucial to remember that replacing an experienced professional or technical resource is approximately one-and-one-half times their annual salary so it is in the best interest of employers to have employee accommodation as a high priority. As oilrig workers value their accommodations they may allow that to be a deciding factor in whom they work for.

Healthy & Happy

Having all the comforts of home is not only a good start, but acts as a central hub for providing other perks that impact health and performance such as sleep, nutrition and relaxation.

Unfortunately, irregular sleep patterns are a fact of life for most oilrig employees due to their long work hours.  High levels of attention are required when observing proper safety precautions over the course of a single day and this is only possible with adequate amounts of restful sleep.

Proper nutrition plays a similar role in ensuring this kind of performance at peak levels. Getting the proper nutrition is an absolute must to perform at optimum levels for long hours in inclement conditions, says Christopher Wanjek a health and science writer.

It’s also very important to permit sufficient time to relax after a grueling work day.  The key in this process is the ability to ‘shut off’ the workday and enjoy undistracted leisure time.

It’s Just Business 

From a purely business perspective, happy and healthy workers are good for the bottom line.  Since employees can spend more than half of a 24-hour day on the job, the rest of the day is theirs.  To that end, worker retention and performance can suffer if their quality of life is substantially lower than what they’re accustomed to at home. To retain employees when there is a lacking workforce and to maintain high quality performance from all workers it is necessary for employers to show their appreciation by investing in quality accommodations for their teams.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Oil and Gas Talent Shortage: New Talent Drying Up

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New Talent is Drying Up for the Oil and Gas Industry

Accordoil and gas talent shortageing to the International Energy Outlook released by the US Energy Information Administration, the global demand for energy could grow by as much as 56% before the year 2040. The bulk of that increase is coming from developing nations who are eager to join the world economy.

In order to keep up with demands, the oil and gas industry will take the lead by not only stepping up production, but by also expanding its overall workforce. However, a challenge is posed by the lack of skilled workers available to meet production needs. As the current workforce reaches retirement age, companies are scrambling to put aggressive recruitment programs into place due to an oil and gas talent shortage.

One of the first areas in the oil and gas industry that needs an influx of workers is on the deepwater rigs. The call has gone out for a new army of drilling, completion and intervention risers. Beyond the ocean rigs, the extraction of liquefied natural gas and shale gas also requires workers who are ready to jump on the line. Without a properly trained workforce, some of the new exploration and production projects could get stalled. If that happens, supply lines could be impacted, which in turn can drive up costs. That’s not something the consumer wants to face.

To address the growing workforce gap, leaders in the oil and gas industry are setting up training programs at community colleges, vocational schools and universities around the world. A primary goal is to attract the next generation of workers as they graduate from high school. The challenge is finding ways of making this type of work appealing to these young grads. Ironically, if
those same grads pursue an education in business or the legal profession, they may have a hard time finding gainful employment upon graduation. That doesn’t seem to be the case in the oil and gas industry. In other words, there will likely be jobs waiting for the new engineers, but the same may not be true for a young lawyer or business manager. In fact, many oil and gas companies are recruiting engineers from shipbuilding and infrastructure projects.

Beyond stepping up efforts to attract recent high school grads and other young students, industry human resource reps are turning to the military as a place to find qualified workers. Ex-service personal already have an appealing array of skill sets in leadership and project management. These are the qualities that would make them solid candidates for many levels of oil and gas industry work.

Additionally, retention programs across the industry are being expanded. This will help companies hang onto the workers they already have. These retention programs include expanded benefits, bonuses and other incentives. Fortunately, this is one segment of the business world where funding financial incentives won’t prove to be a burden on the company’s bottom line.

Companies also need to change their hiring practices. It may no longer be viable to strictly hire locally, especially when you consider how one company’s interests can span across several countries. The idea is to find the best people for the job and provide them with the freedom and resources to relocate. Bottom line: for the oil and gas industry to thrive, they have to find the best workers wherever they can.

 

Mainland Machinery Ltd

eLearning for Oil and Gas

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elearning for mining

eLearning 101: Web-Based Training for Oil & Gas Workers

What could possibly motivate a person to take training on their computer instead of in a classroom?  Potential factors are simplicity, convenience and lower up-front costs. For an employer, comparative costs for online or web-based learning (eLearning) and instructor-led classroom learning is typically significant.

What’s My Motivation?

Previously, if an employee wanted to advance in their career they had to take evening courses at a nearby high school or university in subjects that their employer wanted them to take. For an oil rig employee, this would have meant taking a health and safety course in a trailer near the oil rig they were working at.  If courses were purely for self-interest, an employer would usually not reimburse the cost unless the worker could justify the expense.

Mutually Beneficial   

So how do employers and employees mutually benefit with eLearning? For one thing, online courses are cost-effective for an employer.  For example, 2,000 students can be trained in 7 hours (14,000 student-hours) using eLearning.  Compare that to 10 hours (20,000 student-hours) of instructor classroom training.  Right there, 6,000 student-hours have been saved. If you attach a conservative hourly rate of $30, there is a total savings of $180,000.00.  This amount doesn’t include savings in instructors, travel, training hardware and facilities.

The benefit to employees is saving personal time.  Online students don’t have to spend valuable time travelling to and from a classroom, eLearning is provided on demand. This results in employees feeling empowered because they have total control of their learning schedule, they can determine how much time they are able to devote to their course load and they can select an optimal finish date.

What is E-Learning Anyway?

Before e-Learning became popular, it was known by many names – Computer-Based Training (CBT), Web-Based Training (WBT), Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSS), distance or online learning and online tutorials. Thankfully, this type of training has evolved dramatically over the years.  Standardization has been established and there is now a large measure of consistency in the use of authoring tools and delivery systems.

Learning Management Systems

While e-Learning has great value this can be lost if it is not accompanied by a robust and well thought-out Learning Management System (LMS).  An LMS sometimes includes Content Management functionality and is consequently known as an LCMS.  An LMS provides several functions that previously required coordination between various parties, these functions include: Registration, Grading, Reporting, Guidance (Pathfinding), Security, etc.

E-Learning Leaders in Oil & Gas

There are plenty of eLearning providers on the Internet but only a few stand out in the oil and gas sector.  PetroEd has moved to the front of the line for oil and gas.  Their training portal allows for streamlined access for registered users. From rig workers to administrative staff, every employee in the oil and gas industry can benefit from taking online courses and can add real value to their work profile while on the job. Workers can keep up-to-date with the latest technology and, if they desire, they can pursue a degree or diploma to further their career.  eLearning for Oil and Gas is evidently beneficial to both employees and employers.

The Future

Consider the potential benefits of learning via your smartphone or tablet. The possibilities that technology provides to learning are endless and the benefits are limitless.  To gain an understanding of the direction that learning is headed due to recent advancements observe the steps being taken by local universities and colleges. A common practice is the combination of eLearning with classroom delivery, called Blended Learning.  It represents the best of both worlds and helps make education even more accessible.

With so many eLearning opportunities and the multitude of benefits provided by this pursuit, it is an excellent option for many oil and gas employees hoping to advance their careers. Furthermore, it provides oil and gas companies the chance to invest in their existing human capital by offering high quality industry-specific education for a lower cost and with greater convenience to their employees.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Canadian Atlantic: The Next Big Oil Play?

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next big oil playWill the Canadian Atlantic be the Next Big Oil Play?

Recently held in Calgary, the Global Petroleum Show showcased developments in the field to over 63,000 representatives from more than 100 countries. At the top of the list of items discussed were the waters off the Atlantic coast of Canada, which are still considered by many to be frontier territory.

Numerous strikes of oil have occurred in recent years, producing hundreds of millions of oil barrels for consumers. And there are many more potential prospects in the area proposed to launch new drilling programs for the third quarter of 2014. With the sudden surge of interest in the Atlantic waters from these new strikes, there is plenty of potential for companies to move in and develop the coast into the next huge oil boom.

Competing with Western Canada

While current figures comparing the oil production per day show that Western Canada completely dwarfs the production of Atlantic Canada (some 2.6 million barrels per day compared to approx. 235,000), the number of Atlantic prospects is climbing.

With a potential of 1.5 billion barrels projected to be pumped from the Atlantic Coast, many oil companies have been investing huge money in new technologies. In fact, so many potential drill sites have been documented, that many firms are beginning to develop new platforms that can handle the rough Atlantic waters with a focus on dodging icebergs and drilling to depths of nearly 4,000 meters.

Transforming the Atlantic Coast

There are complex plans that will shape the face of the Atlantic coast in the near future. Oil, and even mining companies, have proposed or are already building a new array of projects to harvest the abundant prospects on the coast. A slew of new mines, gas export terminals, hydro projects, pipelines, and offshore oil rigs will soon exist on the coast as companies seek to maximize the new wells.

While some may think companies are only in it for the oil, these developments will create thousands of jobs and in some cases provide new clean energy solutions for the local communities.

Upcoming Atlantic Projects

Of the many projects being developed, a few may single-handedly shape the surrounding coast.

The Energy East Pipeline is among these, marking a moment in history as TransCanada plans to develop its first crude oil transportation pipeline by altering an existing natural gas pipeline. In addition to alterations, the new pipeline would have to be built across multiple provinces to line up with existing pipe in preparation for oil transportation.

Additionally, the Gravity Based Structure (GBS) of the Hebron Project is currently in full production for implementation by 2017, with a goal of producing more than 700 million barrels of oil from the Hebron offshore field. Designed as a new innovation, the platform seeks to employ over 3000 people upon completion, with transportation of the platform to a deep-water site occurring this summer.

While there are many more sites in production, the two mentioned above are sure to be among the first to produce oil off the coast and pioneer the newest source of Canadian oil.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Replacing Marine Port Diesel with Renewable Energy Sources

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marine port dieselReplacing Marine Port Diesel with Renewable Energy Sources

Marine ports contribute to both water and air pollution. Although their impact has been well documented, their pollutants are mainly unregulated. Sources report that one container ship can emit almost the same amount of deadly chemicals as 50 million cars (The Guardian). Most of the cruise ships, cargo ships and tug boats are powered by diesel fuel that, unfortunately, affects the health of communities in coastal and inland regions around the world.

Gaps in the legislation have been publicly acknowledged by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. They have gone on record citing that certain matters need urgent attention such as the issues regarding pollution (Maritime and Coastguard Agency).

Marine Diesel – What it is and how it affects our wildlife

There are two types of diesel fuel: a petroleum based product and a low sulfur product. The type of diesel used for marine vessels is a combination of two basic types of marine fuels: distillate and residual. This combination fuel is classified by the environmental protection agency (EPA) as “Marine Diesel Fuel”, which is known as an “intermediate” fuel.

When spilled into the water, marine diesel fuel casts a thick film of dark color. After only days or weeks, it can become hard like asphalt on roads. Additionally, it is very toxic and has a dramatic effect upon wildlife when spilled into our waterways. Short term exposure has the capability to harm wildlife. For example, if sea otters or birds get the heavy oils on them, they may die from hypothermia, because they are unable to keep themselves warm. Animals can suffer from burns, eye irritations and lung damage caused by the inhalation of fumes (University California Davis).

Marine Diesel Alternatives:

Fuel Cells

Renewable energy researchers are excited to partner with the EPA. These researchers are working to develop alternative fuels, since there are more than 100 ports in the U.S. that are using diesel engine fuel. Currently, solutions, such as hybrid fuel cell systems, are being tested. This could increase operational efficiency, while simultaneously reducing polluting emissions. On top of that, noise would be dramatically reduced, because fuel cells are virtually silent.

Some ports have already been successful with alternative methods. One of the largest ports, the port of Los Angeles, has partnered with Vision Motors. The port of Los Angeles has adopted a plan to produce a zero emission heavy duty truck outfit. They have also incorporated the use of electric powered short haul tractors to further their innovation.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy, or marine energy, is considered to be the most renewable and precious forms of green energy. Although it is a relatively expensive form of energy, we are seeing an increase of plants that are producing and improving it. Tidal energy varies in design. It is considered to have high potential, because it is a form of hydropower that is drawn from orbital characteristics. A tidal generator converts the energy of tidal flow into electricity. It has become apparent that once competition increases, the availability of tidal power may be sizably reduced.

Like the renewable energy researchers and the EPA, more partnerships will form as we move forward into the future.  As collaborative efforts continue, we hope there will be more reward for companies who support an ecofriendly future. In the meantime, our government agencies alongside passionate marine and wildlife organizations offer education and support.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Big Data’s Benefits in the Oil and Gas Industry

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big dataBig Data’s Benefits in the Oil and Gas Industry

Big Data has become the new buzzword for the C-level suite. For many, the power of Big Data to help run their business, identify untapped opportunities and uncover new revenue streams faster than ever before, has them salivating. Big Data can be considered a cost-effective approach to dig deep in to the volume, speed and chaos of massive amounts of data.

Within this data lies valuable trends and information that was hidden because of the massive amount of work required to analyse it. This power has been available to leading corporations, such as Walmart or IBM, but at high expense. Today’s technology and software has brought Big Data processing costs down and have made it more accessible for the rest of the corporate world. This technology is now feasible for start-ups to oil exploration companies.

The value of Big Data to the oil and gas industry falls into the areas of analytics and enabling new opportunities in oil exploration. Big Data analytics can reveal insights such as geological data points, reserve management and mapping, previously hidden in data too costly to process. It has already been in use on most Abu Dhabi oil and gas fields, where Big Data solutions have been noted to create major benefits.

Mapping of Potential Drilling Locations for Crude

Until recently, technology linked to oil exploration was considered basic and at times made it no more than a guessing game. Big Data analysis has helped change the way oil exploration is conducted. Now, the data collected from the field can be entered into specialized software, which helps to analyse the data based on specific criteria, delivering more accurate results.

Today, sonar mapping, 3D and 4D mapping is being used in exploration, which results in the creation of more precise oil and gas field maps. These maps are also very helpful in identifying additional deposits of oil and gas, which may be trapped within the porous rock surrounding the reservoirs.

Geology and mineral exploration companies are also keen on discovering what lies below the surface of the ground. With nanotechnology allowing sensors to be miniaturized, it’s possible to collect data directly from wells or mine shafts. This data will be of great importance to geologists and mineral exploration companies who can create accurate maps of deposits, without needing to drill in search of the minerals. With Canada’s economy heavily dependent on the oil industry, collecting accurate data related to the different oil producing areas will help map the region for further exploration.

Improved Security During Oil Production Transport and Processing

The analysis of data can also help to improve the security of crude and gas production; be it the processing, transportation or marketing of oil and gas. Tracking pipeline data points over vast regions is made easier through the use of software that analyses factors such as weather, temperature, ground conditions, and pipeline infrastructure. Failing to meet any of the specified inputs results in security programs being triggered and require security personnel to look into the matter. Through the use of data analysis, human error is eliminated, resulting in more effective security solutions, at a much faster response time.

With the demand for oil and natural gas continuing to reach all-time highs, the need to adapt to new technology and improve production and processing is crucial. Besides the exploration, production and processing of oil and gas, analysing Big Data can also be used to improve the efficiency of oil and gas consumption. Automobiles and the logistics industry remain the biggest consumers of oil and gas products. Therefore, the technology should be used to help improve fuel efficiency, thus helping to reduce the pressure on oil production.

As demand for oil and gas products increase, the need to develop and use new technology to help improve fuel efficiency and reduce fuel consumption is critical. It’s also important to make sure each of the Canadian oil and gas wells produce the maximum amount possible and reduce the cost linked to drilling oil and gas.

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Helicopter Safety Offshore

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helicopter safety offshoreHelicopter Safety Offshore: Keeping Workers Safe

Worker safety is a major concern for any industry. For offshore oil rigs it is especially important since the workers are confined to an oil rig platform, surrounded by nothing but the high seas.

Working on an offshore rig is considered one of the most trying jobs on the planet. The challenges range from the rig workers needing to live and work in confined spaces for an extended period of time, to dangers such as fires, hurricanes and equipment malfunctions.

With offshore rigs located several hundred miles out at sea, it’s important that oil and gas companies have an effective mode of transportation to extract employees in case of an emergency. With this in mind, helicopter safety offshore, and overall rig safety is a serious topic that companies with rigs, located in Canada or elsewhere, need to contend with.

Training and Equipment Involved in Offshore Safety Practices

Currently, the most effective mode of transportation linked to offshore rig evacuation is the helicopter. Being able to utilize it in almost any weather condition, along with the ability to maneuver it in tight spaces, makes the helicopter a great option for rescue situations. Furthermore, storage is valuable as a rig rescue may require additional equipment, such as early weather prediction equipment and warning beacons.

Employers also need to invest in proper training to help their employees be prepared for emergency situations. Obtaining Basic Survival Training Certification so that your personnel can keep themselves and their colleagues alive in case of danger could proof to be a lifesaving investment.  Some of the recommended training is to have health and safety forums, know the proper procedures for fire emergencies and learn emergency helicopter escape protocol, in case a rescue helicopter was to go down. Training should also include instruction on the proper use of warm wet suits, which rig workers are required to use if they have to abandon the rig before a rescue team can get to them during a storm.

This is a prime example of the fact that offshore safety is more than just having an effective mode of evacuation transport. In some situations, you will find that the rig workers may need to wait for some hours before help can reach them. Being able to stay safe after abandoning ship is a very important part of the safety training.

Preparing Rig Workers for Helicopter Rescue

In most situations, weather surveillance equipment will issue bad weather warnings well before a weather system reaches the offshore oil or gas rig. If there is an indication that storm weather will affect the rig, it will notify the team to execute helicopter evacuation procedures. It is important for rig workers to receive proper safety training regarding helicopter evacuation. Some safety precautions covered in this training may include:

  • Ensuring the rescue harness is fastened correctly, before being hoisted;
  • Learning how to combat sway while being hoisted in to the helicopter;
  • Handling water rescue operations, since you may be in water when being rescued.

With oil and gas rig workers located hundreds of miles from the mainland, it’s important that they be prepared for every possibility. This is especially true today, as climate changes have made weather systems more extreme. Only by being prepared, getting the proper training and using the latest technology and equipment to promote offshore safety, can accidents and injuries be avoided while working on offshore rigs.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Cyber Security in Oil and Gas Industry

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cyber security in oil and gasCyber Security in Oil and Gas Industry

As the Canadian oil and gas industry expands to cater for demand, the adoption of modern technology is key to the industry’s efficiency and increased productivity. However, with this increased dependence on computers and digital technology to manage and run the oil and gas industry, the risk of cyber-attacks has also increased.

Recent vulnerabilities, such as Heartbleed, have made it clear that the industry and even the government, must be ready for any attacks against their IT and web infrastructure. The risk of these attacks comes from different sources, each one having its own intention; some of which are to target the gas and oil production companies. Reports show that in 2012, 41% of the malware attacks were targeted at oil and gas companies, which was a 600% increase compared to 2010. The attacks directed at the oil and gas production industry have been noted to come from the three main sources discussed below.

State Sponsored Cyber-Attacks

The main risk linked to malware and virus attacks in the oil and gas industry comes from state sponsored sources. Today, many countries have stressful relations among neighbouring and other countries, prompting some to attempt the disruption of oil and gas production in those countries. A perfect example of this kind of cyber-attack was experienced by Saudi Aramco, which saw a computer virus named “Shamoon” wipe out data from 30,000 of the oil and gas company’s computers. However, it did not stall oil and gas production by Saudi Aramco, but it is considered a perfect example of state sponsored cyber-attacks.

Hacktivism Cyber-Attacks

Hacktivists are people who use computers and computer networks to raise awareness and perform demonstrations regarding different issues and topics. They use digital technology to create awareness regarding different concerns, but can also hack in to computer systems with the intention of stalling oil and gas production. The biggest threat to the Canadian oil and gas industry comes from environmental hacktivists who are constantly attempting to disrupt the expansion and production of oil and gas fields.

Terrorist Cyber-Attacks

Globally, terrorism has become a common term and has many people constantly looking over their shoulder. The Canadian oil and gas industry isn’t immune from terrorist attacks either. Being a western country, Canada must remain vigilant to avoid any terrorist cyber-attack which could cripple or destroy their oil and gas industry.

The threats to the Canadian oil and gas industry can only be expected to increase in the near future and simply developing anti-virus and anti-malware software may not be the ultimate solution. To improve security, it’s important that the Canadian oil and gas companies consider developing their own unique computer operating systems. They can do this by performing penetration tests (Pentests) to uncover any weaknesses, making them less vulnerable to attacks. The energy sector is the second most targeted sector by cyber-attacks, making it a major concern for the industry to develop an effective and lasting defense against cyber-crime.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Canadian Women in Oil and Gas Industry

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Canadian Women in Oil and Gas IndustryCanadian Women in Oil and Gas Industry

Women have traditionally been a minority in mining, especially in executive leadership positions. However, there has been a change in recent years as many mining companies are altering their attitudes towards women in the industry. Many studies have proven that women have certain superior qualities to men. Therefore, including women in any working group, results in better performance. As oil and gas companies have recognized the benefits of including women in the oil and gas industry’s work force, it has become one of the main reasons that the Canadian oil and gas industry has seen a spike in female recruitment.

Current Statistics of Positions Held by Women  

The Canadian mining industry was among the first to include women in mining work. Women participating, in what was traditionally a male job, have been recognized in Canada for several decades now. Women began entering the male dominated industry with the modernization of mining equipment, which made mining easier and safer. Since then, many other industries have followed suit as it has become clear that women are capable of handling most jobs when offered the opportunity. Women are encouraged to take up jobs in both administrative and manual positions. Currently, women take up 19% of the positions in the mining industry, with 12% filling senior executive positions and 6% in board of director positions. Although the oil and gas mining industry still accounts for a smaller number of women, intensive efforts are being put in towards encouraging women to join the petroleum industry. The efforts have not gone unnoticed, with each of the four petroleum related programs doubling enrollment over a 10 year period.

Gender Dis-aggregated Enrollment in Petroleum-Related Programs University of Calgary

Program 1987 Enrollment 1997 Enrollment
 Chemical Engineering Total: 123 Female: 20 (16.3%)Male: 103 (83.7%) Total: 211 Female: 76 (36.0%)Male: 135 (64.0%)
 Geology/Geophysics Total: 183 Female: 40 (21.9%)Male: 143 (78.1%) Total: 192 Female: 79 (41.1%)Male: 113 (58.9%)

Source: NSERC/Petro-Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, Department of Geo-metrics Engineering, University of Calgary University of Alberta

Program 1987 Enrollment 1997 Enrollment
 Chemical Engineering Total: 123 Female: 20 (16.3%)Male: 103 (83.7%) Total: 211 Female: 76 (36.0%)Male: 135 (64.0%)
 Chemical Engineering Total: 194 Female: 37 (19.1%)Male: 157 (80.9%) Total: 270 Female: 95 (35.2%)Male: 175 (64.8%)
 Geology Total: 120 Female: 24 (20.0%)Male: 96 (80.0%) Total: 117 Female: 41 (35.0%)Male: 76 (65.0%)
 Geophysics Total: 29 Female: 4 (13.8%)Male: 25 (86.2%) Total: 20 Female: 9 (45.0%)Male: 11 (55.0%)

Sources: Office of the Registrar, Institutional Analysis, University of Alberta. Faculty of Science, University of Alberta Reasons Behind the Increasing Demand for Female Workforces

Gone are the days when women were thought to only be good at housekeeping. There have been many studies that have proven that in regards to business, women are even more successful than men. It has been proven that males and females do thing in different ways; bringing out some important benefits, if harnessed in the correct manner. A study done in 2012, Leadership: Women Do it Better than Men by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, clearly demonstrated that women excelled in 15 of the 16 characteristic required to be an excelling leader. This also means that work groups that have more women, tend to be more successful than those bearing fewer women. This is linked to certain skill sets which women tend to have, that are shown to be superior to men in planning and working. Below are some of these important aspects:

  • Strategic planning : The Zenger and Folkman study clearly demonstrated that women tend to be better strategic planners then men. The study showed that men tend to want to continue trying a certain approach, even after falling twice or trice, with the hope of finding a solution. Women will return to the drawing board and attempt to determine what went wrong the first time round, which results in less time lost and more money saved.
  • Risk management: Women also scored higher ratings when it came to risk assessment and management. The study did not go further to determine what made women better at taking more calculated risks, but hopefully future studies will determine the reason. Risk management decisions made by women tend to bear half the risk linked to decisions made by men.
  • Openness to new ideas and approaches: Women are also much better at learning new skills that they are interested in. They showed an overall better willingness towards learning and developing new ideas and approaches linked to the projects at hand.
  • Better at emotional management: Another very important skill that women tend to be superior at is emotional management. Unlike men, who get overwhelmed by anger or excitement, women tend to remain calm until the task is completed. This was clearly demonstrated in games held between the men and women, whereby the women retained focus on the competition at all stages. On the other hand, men came under pressure towards the end or when competition was intense, causing them to make major mistakes and even lose.
  • Better financial acumen: Finally, comes money management. Most women tend to plan and spend limited financial resources in a better way than men. Women planned to spend the money with long term plans in mind, while men tended to observe the shorter term perspective, resulting in financial shortfalls over the long term.

Scope for a Female Workforce Improving the Canadian Oil Mining Industry The above are just a few of the skills that make women strong contenders for enrollment in the Canadian oil and gas industry. In February 2014, the female leadership program offered $250,000 in federal funding towards female scientists and engineers, as a way of attracting more women to take up petroleum and mining related programs in the future. The increasing influx of women getting involved in traditionally male dominated jobs is on the rise across all industries; with many observing major positive changes. It’s important that not only the Canadian oil and gas mining industry consider including more women, but all Canadian industrial sectors.

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Canadian LNG Exports: Asia Seeking LNG

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canadian lng exportsCanadian LNG Exports: Asian Buyers Seeking LNG

Liquid Natural Gas, or LNG, has seen a sharp rise in consumption in recent years. With Canadian gas deposits considered to be the largest in the world, most developed and developing nations are in the bid to secure the LNG from Canada for a cheaper price. Due to countries like China and India going through a period of booming development, as well as the recent need for energy after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Asia has the largest demand for LNG. Therefore, the race to secure cheaper Canadian gas deposits is at the top of Asia’s agenda.

Rapid Development in India and China

Currently, India and China are the most rapidly developing countries, resulting in an insatiable demand for energy to drive the countries and their industries. Both countries mainly use LNG for domestic cooking and heating purposes. However, in India, a new source of demand has been noted in recent years.

With the government stepping up on environmental pollution, many vehicles are being converted to use liquid natural gas. This demand is spiking the countries need to secure the gas at lowered prices. LNG being used in the automobile industry, coupled with domestic use, has resulted in huge demand for a new supplier. This has prompted India to be among the biggest contenders in looking to secure Canadian gas contracts.

The Recent Nuclear Disaster and Energy Shortage in Japan

Japan has been driven by nuclear energy for several decades, with the country rarely considering importing or using other forms of energy or fuel. The recent Fukushima nuclear disaster resulted in the closure of all nuclear energy plants in Japan, which has literally ground the country to a halt. However, industrial development, manufacturing and consumer electrical consumption hasn’t abated; so they have resorted to using other forms of energy, one being LNG. This has also brought Japan in to the competition to secure LNG supply contracts from Canada. As they are facing an extreme energy shortage, they have been aggressively trying to negotiate Canadian gas contracts.

Group Purchasing Power

Since it’s clear that Asian countries show the highest interest in Canadian gas, it’s important that the involved nations consider taking a different approach towards securing the LNG contracts. Rather than scrambling to secure individual contracts, it may be worthwhile to approach negotiating the contracts as a purchasing group. Thus, allowing them to bargain for LNG contracts as a group, cutting off competition amongst themselves and ensuring they both get the LNG contracts for the same price and equal quantity.

As the gas reserves are found in BC, the money involved in the projects is huge. This would be considered the largest spend in the history of British Columbia for its natural resource. The prospect of billions of dollars in investments, high paying jobs and the potential of erasing government debt, has made this a high profile issue for the province.