Oil and gas training is important as it helps to refine the leadership skills needed for developing oil fields in challenging, and sometimes violent, locations, one industry expert states.

Project manager Hogne Pedersen says he learned through education and training how to navigate the Nigerian government and establish local business ties in order to develop oil fields.

His experience of oil and gas training was detailed in the Wall Street Journal, which also reported on a partnership between Norwegian oil and natural gas company StatoilHydro ASA and the Haas School.

The course commences at the school's Berkeley campus and also includes segments at the company's Norwegian headquarters and holdings in Russia and Libya.

It covers challenges such as working with contractors who may not have the manpower or equipment to complete a project on time and dealing with local officials.

Earlier this month the US government announced support for Ghana graduates through 100 scholarships in the petrochemical industry.

5th Global Education & Training event for Oil and Gas: Exploration & Production