Petroleum and Natural Gas Degree |  Lackawanna College

Petroleum & Natural Gas Technology

At A Glance

Two-year program that prepares students for careers in the production of petroleum and natural gas.
Students participate in an industry-based 160-hour internships to get hands-on learning.
Graduates will continue to see employment opportunities as 50% of the current workforce is expected to retire in the next five to seven years.
93% of Lackawanna graduates get hired by large petroleum and gas companies.
Available in Tunkhannock at the College’s School of Petroleum & Natural Gas; at the Hazleton, Lake Region-Hawley, Sunbury and Towanda centers.

Welcome to Petroleum & Natural Gas Business Administration-Associate Degree

Want to be on the production side of the Petroleum & Natural Gas industry? Then Lackawanna College’s Petroleum & Natural Gas Technology Associate degree may be for you. The program prepares students to be operations technicians that will be responsible for the production and processing of oil and gas.

Your Career Starts Here

The U.S. could see up to 50% of the oil and natural gas industry’s skilled workers retire within the next five to seven years. Our associate degree program answers the industry’s need for a trained workforce in all sectors of the petroleum and natural gas industry.

The median wage for geological and petroleum technicians is $51,130. Pennsylvania has the sixth-highest level of employment in the United States for these occupations.
Graduates of Lackawanna College’s associate program can work as:

  • Lease Operators
  • Field Technicians
  • Operations Techs in a Midstream Environment
Employees in those positions will act as problem solvers who will maintain facilities, equipment, instrumentation and operations to ensure the optimum production and delivery of petroleum and natural gas; troubleshoot obstacles that may prohibit the maximum efficiency of the system, and operate within the safety standards that are agreed upon across the industry.

More About the Program

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Technology associate degree prepares students to be operations technicians that will be responsible for the production and processing of oil and gas. Students will learn concepts in oil and gas discovery, drilling, production, pipelining, processing and marketing plus OSHA safety requirements and computer skills. Instruction will include hands-on teaching with oil and gas field equipment and a summer internship with four weeks of actual field experience with an oil and gas producing company. Additionally, students will be able to:

  • Explain the fundamental principles of the technology in the petroleum and natural gas upstream, midstream and downstream sectors including development, economics, equipment, systems, instrumentation, operations and the various associated scientific principles and processes.
  • Demonstrate Industrial Safety and OSHA regulations knowledge, skills and resources to be able to work safely in the petroleum and natural gas industry while understanding the overall aspects of safety, health and environment.
  • Demonstrate understanding of petroleum and natural gas production, field handling, completion, workover and well service concepts and processes.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of reciprocating gas compression and pipelining technology.
  • Apply leadership, ethics and regulations principles to the petroleum & natural gas industry.
  • Participate in an industry internship of 160 certified hours.

The Course Work

Lackawanna’s two-year program is two years and includes an industry-based 160-hour internship for additional hands-on learning opportunities. The degree program opens up opportunities for careers in states including Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, West Virginia and New Jersey.

Areas of study that students typically encounter in associate petroleum and natural gas technology degree programs include:

  • Field Handling and Processing
  • Petroleum and Gas Well Production
  • Drilling and Completions
  • Compression Technology
  • Natural Gas Technology
  • Pipelining
  • Safety Certifications and Industry Standards

Additional Information

Lackawanna College is approved by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education to grant bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and professional certificates and is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is designated as a National Accrediting Agency by the U.S. Office of Education.