The US needs to encourage young people into a career in science or engineering to support the oil industry, it has been claimed.

US energy secretary Samuel W Bodman told members of the National Petroleum Council at its annual meeting that they must focus on education to make sure that the most intelligent youths choose careers in science or engineering.

He told the council that many of the skilled engineers and scientists in the country are near to retirement and there are not enough replacements for them.

The current potential workforce are not competent "at the levels necessary to make the quantum leap in energy production the trend lines indicate are required", Mr Bodman added.

He claimed that president George Bush's proposed American Competitiveness Initiative, which would fund maths and science education in American secondary schools, was a positive step.

According to the energy secretary, the scheme would provide around $136 billion (£559 million) over ten years to go into research, development and education and would "encourage entrepreneurship and innovation".

Global Education and Training event for Oil and Gas: Refining & Petrochemicals
On September 17th, the 118th meeting of the National Petroleum Council was held in Washington, DC.

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