The North Dakota Tribal College System (NDTCS) is partnering with three leading oil and gas companies on an apprenticeship program to develop a homegrown workforce in the energy sector and other trades.

Bakken Hess

Persistent labor shortages have plagued the Williston Basin, home to the mighty Bakken Shale, one of the Lower 48’s major oil and gas producing plays.

Hess Corp., a top Bakken producer, has committed to invest $12 million over the next four years “to provide tuition assistance, stipends and other support for establishing apprenticeships in a variety of industries [designated] by each of the state’s five tribal colleges based on the local job market and needs of their tribal communities,” NDTCS said. 

Hess has been ramping up its drilling and completions activity in...