The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board (IPRB) will conduct two presentations highlighting White County oil industry career opportunities at the Carmi-White County High School Teen Conference on Friday, April 21. Campbell Energy geologist Ross Basnett, Shawnee Oil Co. petroleum engineer Mike Payne and IPRB executive director Seth Whitehead will make 40-minute presentations at 9:05 p.m. and 9:50 p.m., sharing information with the students regarding their particular careers, and career opportunities at their companies and throughout the Illinois Basin. The oil production industry has long been one of White County’s leading employers, with direct oil industry jobs representing 7-8 percent of overall employment. White County oil production has doubled since 2011 to more than two million barrels annually, representing more than a quarter of the state’s overall production. White County’s thriving oil production has created demand for many production and exploration industry occupations. Truck drivers, pumpers, welders, electricians, heavy equipment operators, rig hands, petroleum engineers and diesel mechanics are in particularly high demand.
