Job security

Oct. 22, 2001
Regarding Steven Poruban's article (OGJ, Sept. 24, 2001, p. 22), I wonder if Mr. Poruban was employed in the oil and gas industry in the early 1980s?

Regarding Steven Poruban's article (OGJ, Sept. 24, 2001, p. 22), I wonder if Mr. Poruban was employed in the oil and gas industry in the early 1980s? If he were, he would understand how inane his article and comments are. Nearly 1 million people lost their oil industry jobs during the last 2 decades. They could easily tell Mr. Poruban why the industry has trouble attracting and keeping technical people. Today is no different from 1983, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1998, etc.

Last week, I was in Houston visiting a friend. Another company has just bought his employer. He worries that he will lose his job for the sixth time in less than 20 years. Working for a small company or as an independent consultant is harrowing. You constantly fret that prices will drop to the point that your company or business fails. Product prices are totally beyond your control. Low prices change profitable wells into money losers no matter how efficient you are. Selling prospects becomes impossible as budgets and people disappear. Invested time and capital vanish literally into thin air.

Mr. Poruban bemoans the lack of people and the industry's bad employment image. He needs to fully understand the problems that we as an industry have and do face. Lack of people is not the problem. Scarcity of capital, tax burdens, and a society that despises our efforts are the real problems. Personally, my career encourages my children to pursue any field other than petroleum-related careers. The uncertain future of the industry is not a strong base on which to build a life.

Michael A. Birch
Oklahoma City