Case History: Texas Eagle Ford/Burgos Basin International Workforce Challenges

The International Shale plays known as Eagle Ford and Burgos Basin have presented a new challenge to the regional educational community. The Texas Shale Boom has created demands for a professional workforce that is not easily found in the rural areas of Texas. In addition, the Mexican Energy Reforms have opened the door to exploration by foreign investors in their northern region. Ideally the existing workforce in Texas could participate in the oilfield development of the Northern region of Mexico. This is not likely to occur as Texas oilfields have enough work to keep their scarce labor force engaged for many years into the future. Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is meeting the challenge by creating educational venues that can lead American and Mexican university students into an international petroleum industry workforce.