The University of Texas at Austin Opens New Oil and Gas Industry Learning Center in Houston

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX®) at The University of Texas at Austin is proud to announce the opening of its new Learning and Assessment Center in Houston, Texas. The new PETEX Learning Center includes larger facilities, more hands-on training equipment, Web-based tools, higher student capacities and greater training opportunities for oil and gas industry personnel. Courses are available for a full range of employees, from roughnecks working on oil rigs to accountants, lawyers and other executives who need to stay current on the latest industry best practices and regulations.

The new PETEX Learning and Assessment Center at 4702 North Sam Houston Parkway West, Suite 800, at Bammel Business Park in Houston, Texas, opened earlier this month. The 13,165-square foot facility is conveniently located in North Houston, four miles West of I-45.

"Our new Learning Center is opening at a critical time for the oil and gas industry. There has been an increase in training demands because of an increase in drilling demands," said John Hoopingarner, director of PETEX. "Nationwide, several trends and economic factors have contributed to a shortage of skilled oil and gas personnel. One identifiable factor: seasoned employees are retiring, and there is an increasing generational divide in the number of qualified recruits. A new influx of skilled personnel is needed to fill serious gaps. PETEX is here to help provide the necessary oil and gas training to ensure that the industry is populated with qualified personnel. Our new Learning and Assessment Center tackles these issues head-on."

New capabilities of the Learning Center include:

• Indoor and outdoor labs for effective simulations of on-the-job duties and responsibilities.
• Increased technological capabilities to enhance Web-based teaching and learning and boost industry collaboration in Texas and around the world.
• Updated labs with a variety of flow meters and provers for liquid and gas measurement training.

The new Learning Center expands on the already impressive list of training materials and services from PETEX. Recently, PETEX expanded its Web-based tools to include interactive, online e-learning modules that help train personnel around the world - from Texas to the Middle East. PETEX also produces industry-standard textbooks and other training publications.

For more information about PETEX, a component of Continuing and Innovative Education at The University of Texas at Austin, please visit http://www.petex.org.

About Continuing and Innovative Education:

Continuing and Innovative Education (CIE) has a 100-year history of extending the resources of the University to anyone with a desire to learn. CIE is made up of the K-16 Education Center, Petroleum Extension Service, Professional Development Center, Thompson Conference Center, University of Texas-University Charter School and University Extension. http://www.utexas.edu/cie/stories.  

Contact: Wayne Wenske, Continuing and Innovative Education, (512) 232-7392, [email protected]  

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SOURCE Continuing and Innovative Education