How can the petroleum industry improve its reputation and make oil and gas careers more attractive?
Could technology help? New technologies are being employed in the petroleum industry all the time. There are directional drilling technologies that drill vertically, horizontally and even in corkscrews to hit targets. There have been major advancements in deep subsurface imaging for greater accuracy through numerous different rock types. Yet many today consider a wind turbine as the common symbol of progress. Youth see wind and other renewable energy sources as exciting examples of innovation. Plus, investing in renewable energy provides opportunities to improve the image of the industry and creates a more innovative working environment. However, developing alternative or renewable energy requires extensive research and financial resources. Research and development (R&D) is an important function in any industry but over the past few decades, R&D spending in the petroleum industry has fallen and is considered low compared to other industries. In addition, oil and gas companies direct mo
