CHENANGO COUNTY – No matter what you think of the natural gas drilling issue, one fact is certain – drilling for natural gas will provide job opportunities in Chenango County. The question is, how many jobs will it bring, and how long will they last?
During an Evening Sun roundtable discussion last month, Nornew Vice President of Operations Steven Keyes explained that as more gas wells are drilled, the company will need employees for both exploration and production.
Nornew has an office located in The Eaton Center in Norwich. Keyes said the office is approximately eight years old and currently Nornew employs about 10.
In addition, Keyes said approximately 18 people work on each gas rig, positions that include welders, heavy equipment operators, well tenders, roustabouts and many other job titles. Currently, the majority of those positions are contracted with service providers, and manned by out-of-town workers; however Keyes said as drilling increases, more opportunities may open up for local workers.
“Businesses may decide to locate here. If we continue drilling, there will be more opportunities over time for service providers,” Keyes said. He explained that when positions are available, Nornew tries to recruit from the local area.
“In the Black River area, it took years for equipment, people, and the support positions, but we’re confident that we have the longevity here to convince businesses to establish field offices and warehouses here. It’s a large investment.”
Keyes could not say exactly how many local jobs would be produced as a result of the gas drilling. “It’s all results oriented,” he said. The amount of gas discovered in the region will affect the number of local jobs created and the impact on the economy.
However, Nornew spokesman Dennis Holbrook explained royalties from the gas drilling alone would likely add the equivalent of 100 jobs to the local economy. “Just on the royalties alone, the funds being added to the economy are the equivalent of 100 jobs,” he said.
Similar drilling in the Barnett Shale Region added a number of jobs and revenue to the area. Jobs in the retail trade increased by 27 percent, eating and drinking jobs increased by 15 percent. New construction jobs increased by 9 percent and jobs in maintenance and repair construction and crude petroleum and natural gas both increased by 7 percent. While there is no guarantee the same job growth will be seen in Chenango County, the area could see a considerable increase.
While some of the jobs may require special training or certification, Keyes said their are jobs available that require minimal training and those that require specific skills. To prepare local residents for these types of jobs, Holbrook said, Nornew worked with the Jefferson Community College to put together a training program. Holbrook said if SUNY Morrisville in Norwich is interested, the company may entertain the idea of instituting a similar program here.
Whether it is through jobs, services or money, natural gas drilling is going to have an impact on the local economy. According to Holbrook, since November of this year, Nornew has paid $300,000 in office expenses, $1.7 million to local contractors and $12 million to third party contractors. “That’s just in the last nine months,” Holbrook said. “The average taxpayer is going to be helped by the gas drilling.”