If your driller suddenly retires,
will you have to retrain your
entire crew?
By Lana Straub
S
eeking a college education after high school is a
pretty new phenomenon.
Prior to the past two generations, skilled trade
professions were popular among those seeking a career
where they could learn a trade from either trade school or
working as an apprentice. This is how a majority of the
skills were passed on in the early days of the water well
drilling profession. Skills were passed from neighbor to
neighbor, father to son or daughter. This was especially
true in family-owned or smaller drilling companies.
However, times have changed. Some construction in-
dustries are suffering a great loss of talented craftsmen
and craftswomen as baby boomers retire. In some circles,
especially in the oil and gas industry, they are referring
to this phenomenon as the "Great Crew Change."
In February 2015, the American Petroleum Institute
released a report, "Energy Works for America," where
they outlined what the Great Crew Change will mean to
oil and gas.
THE GREAT
DRILLING
CREW
CHANGE:
AS
BOOMERS
RETIRE,
WHAT'S
NEXT?
(COVER STORY)
20 December 2015 WWJ
waterwelljournal.com
