Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

10/30/2026

We had a great time today at the annual Fairfield Community High School Career Day. We made a pair of oil and gas career opportunity presentations to about 30 interested students and shared info about Illinois Basin career opportunities with a vast majority of the student body during the afternoon career fair. Huge thanks to Campbell Energy geologist Ross Basnett for taking time out of his busy schedule to share his insights with students at his alma mater!

10/29/2026

Interested in pursuing an oil and gas career? Check out this new opportunity to gain the knowledge needed to break into the industry ❗👇

New for spring 2027, SIC’s Oil & Natural Gas Technician Certificate offers evening classes in Carmi so you can keep working or finishing high school while preparing for something new.

In just one semester, you’ll study oil and natural gas production, hydraulics, welding, artificial lift systems and workplace safety, plus gain internship experience.

📅 Classes begin Jan. 11
🕔 Monday–Thursday, 5–9:50 p.m.
📍 Stanford D. Williams Career and Training Center

Whether you’re exploring your first career or considering a change, learn more at sic.edu/ONG

Questions? Contact SIC Advising at [email protected] or (618) 252-5400, ext. 4130.

10/29/2026

We are thrilled to be working with Southeastern Illinois College to offer this program at their Carmi campus!
🇺🇸🛢️💪

A new career doesn’t have to mean putting everything else on hold. 🔧

New for spring 2027, SIC’s Oil & Natural Gas Technician Certificate offers evening classes in Carmi so you can keep working or finishing high school while preparing for something new.

In just one semester, you’ll study oil and natural gas production, hydraulics, welding, artificial lift systems and workplace safety, plus gain internship experience.

📅 Classes begin Jan. 11
🕔 Monday–Thursday, 5–9:50 p.m.
📍 Stanford D. Williams Career and Training Center

Whether you’re exploring your first career or considering a change, learn more at sic.edu/ONG.

Questions? Contact SIC Advising at [email protected] or (618) 252-5400, ext. 4130.

Offered in partnership with the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board.

10/28/2026

We enjoyed making five Petro Pros presentations to approximately 100 Troy Triad High School industrial arts students on Wednesday. Huge thanks to Illinois Basin oil industry veteran Mike Payne for making time in his schedule to share his knowledge with the students! Interested in scheduling a Petro Pros presentation for your students? Message us or schedule a presentation here: https://illinoispetroleumresourcesboard.org/PetroPros/

10/28/2026

This week's post takes us back to 1972 when increasing oil demand - and fears that the United States was possibly running out of oil (see highlighted text) - led to increased exploration in the Illinois Basin. Fast forward more than a half a century to today, the United States is producing more oil than any nation in history (nearly 14 million barrels per day) and the world is consuming more oil than ever before (103 million barrels per day). The Illinois Basin is estimated by some geologists to have nearly 4 million barrels of oil remaining. Find out more about Illinois oil production history at iprb.org: https://illinoispetroleumresourcesboard.org/industry/

10/26/2026

Be sure to check out the latest Southern Illinois Now! magazine issue's feature story on the Southern Illinois oil production industry 🇺🇸🛢💪! Southern Illinois Now! is a great economic development group whose mission to promote the Southern Illinois region as a great place to live, work, and do business. You can read the article starting on page 30 here: https://southernillinoisnow.org/magazine/

10/23/2026

We had a great time interacting with more than 250 high school students from Argenta-Oreana, Cerro Gordo, Monticello, Maroa-Forsyth, DeLand-Weldon CUSD #57, Blue Ridge and Bement high schools today at the 3rd Annual Deland Weldon High School Trades & CTE Career Fair! This career fair highlighted career opportunities available to students directly after they graduate high school. Find out more about oil and gas careers at iprb.org: https://illinoispetroleumresourcesboard.org/careers/

10/21/2026

This week's post takes us back to 1960 when an oil boom began within the city limits of West Frankfort. Both the City of West Frankfort and the Frankfort Community School district were bolstered by royalty income from several Tar Springs Sandstone wells drilled in the community primarily in the early 1960s. The well located next to the north parking lot of Frankfort High School has produced more than 100,000 barrels of oil and was still producing six barrels per day as recently as 2024. Find out more about Illinois oil production history at iprb.org: https://illinoispetroleumresourcesboard.org/industry/

10/20/2026

Did you know? The United States is producing more oil than any country in the history of the world. But crude oil has little value until it is refined into one of the more than 6,000 finished petroleum products we rely on every day. That said, the United States hasn’t built a new major refinery since 1977. During that time, domestic oil consumption has increased 12% while refining capacity has increased just 7%. Global refining capacity has increased at a greater pace over the past 50 years, but global conflicts have knocked critical refining capacity offline. Hence, the elevated prices for gasoline, diesel and other refined petroleum products we are seeing today.
Notably, the difference between the “upstream” oil production industry and the “downstream” refining industry in the Land of Lincoln is night-and-day.
▶️ In Illinois, none of the small "upstream" companies that find and produce oil are in the "downstream" refining business.
▶️ Similarly, none of the companies that refine oil in Illinois - Marathon, Phillips 66, BP and ExxonMobil - produce oil in the state.
That said, Illinois oil producers have NO control over ANY of the factors that determine pump prices: global oil prices (market driven), taxes (government policy), refining, and marketing and distribution.

10/19/2026

Applications are being accepted for the Oil & Gas Short Certificate Program Instructor position at Southeastern Illinois College's Carmi campus. Base salary will be $40,000 as well as to yet-to-be-determined additional compensation based on the number of courses the candidate is qualified to teach. A minimum of 2,000 hours of oil and gas production industry work experience is required. The ideal candidate also needs to possess strong communication and organizational skills. Teaching experience and social media proficiency is preferred. The individual chosen for this position will be responsible for being head instructor of Oil & Gas Production I & II, Artificial Lift Systems and SAFELAND USA Training courses, recruitment for and promotion of the SIC Oil & Gas Short Certificate Program, coordinating with local oil and gas companies on internship opportunities for students, and coordinating with IPRB staff on program promotion and recruitment. Interested candidates are asked to send a cover letter and resume to IPRB executive director Seth Whitehead by email ([email protected]) or mail (2229 Lake Hills Drive, Vandalia, IL 62471) by Nov. 13. The program will debut in January 2027 and classes will likely be held from
5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday at the Carmi campus during the spring 2027 semester.