ARM Oil and Gas Services, a division of Hershey’s ARM Group, has heard the hoofbeats of national energy firms behind them as Marcellus Shale drilling for natural gas has attracted the largest and most far-flung prospectors. But with 10 years experience in Pennsylvania’s energy sector, ARM has created a targeted plan to mine not just natural gas but Pennsylvania’s well-trained energy workforce as well. This week, the company announced the opening of new administrative facilities in Scranton and Pittsburgh to increase presence in these well-connected shale gas regions.
“The Northeast is probably the most prolific area in the whole play, best geology, most drilling permits,” says ARM Senior Associate Andrew Joyner. “And Pittsburgh helps us because we already have a lot of clients that are drilling in the southwest part of the state. We just saw these moves as a no-brainer. We need to be in these regions. We will cover the whole play by opening these locations.”
Before deciding to move, ARM hired new engineers with experience working on shale projects in the regions. Since shale fracturing is a relatively new industry, there are few experts, and having geological engineers with experience is invaluable for companies like ARM. The company believes that these facilities will establish a presence and allow engineers to prepare for the possibility of shale activities in West Virginia and even in states like New York and Delaware, where drilling is currently not permitted. For ARM, it’s all about staking a claim.
“Our Northeast engineer is licensed in New York and even though they are not drilling yet, we think they are going to be at some point in the future and we can service that area from this new office,” says Joyner. “These offices can really expand our service area beyond the state of Pennsylvania to a regional effort.”
Source: Andrew Joyner, ARM Oil and Gas Services
Writer: John Steele