East Texas is Booming: How does that Affect You?

Look to Texas

If you are a drilling, geophysics, petroleum engineering or natural resources extraction specialist looking for work, have you taken a close look at East Texas? You may have heard that economists are stating that the area is a miracle, or at least a true and lasting boom. Just consider the numbers: only a few years ago, Texas was responsible for less than 15 per cent of the US oil production – today it represents a third. Another startling number? The government of Texas had underestimated their oil revenue in 2013 by $900 million.

Where does this lead?

What does this mean for Texas? New highways are going to be constructed. Deferred maintenance is going to be finally done. The state’s water plan and multiple other infrastructure projects are going to become reality after years of political wrangling and deadlock over where to find the resources to fund them.

What about me?

What does this mean for you as a specialist looking for work in the state? It means more opportunities for advancement, professional growth, and development. More offers from the companies scrambling to find the staff that would enable them to continue riding the boom wave into the future for years to come. What it will also mean for many is closer contact with a process known popularly as fracking and scientifically as hydraulic fracturing.

What is fracking?

This is a mechanical process that is becoming more and more used in order to extract natural resources such as oil and gas. In this process, highly pressurized chemicals are quickly injected deep into the well-bore in order to create fractures in the rock that can then be used to remove the sought-after resource. Hydraulic fracturing is used in shale gas installations, tight oil and hard rock wells, to name a few, and is rapidly becoming the technique of choice for companies that want faster and better results in return for their investment.

Why is all of this important for me to know?

What is often omitted from official industry presentations on fracking is the downside, that is, the health risks associated with the practice. As you can imagine, using charged chemicals under pressure is never safe. Using them in such great proportions as during hydraulic fracturing is even more dangerous both in the short term and the long term to those participating and the surrounding communities. Proper safety procedures need to always be adhered to if accidents and injuries are to be avoided.

Where do you come in?

We need to keep in mind, that in the case of industrial accident that has caused injury to the staff involved, some companies may tend to try and keep the situation as quiet as possible. What Tefteller Law emphasizes instead is that your rights as a worker need to be protected and you are supposed to receive all the help and ongoing support that you can with the help of an East Texas law firm. Therefore, keep their contact information handy should problems occur to you or your colleagues. Don’t give up on your rights – protect your future.