Oil and Gas

Big Oil goes mobile for education

The Houston-based Offshore Energy Center is teaching public- and private-school children in Acadiana about the industry this week. The OEC’s Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit, a traveling exhibit that features six self-contained, kiosk-style learning centers devoted to the technologies and sciences involved in mineral extraction, began making its rounds Monday at St. Martinville Junior High. It visited Plantation Elementary today and will make stops at Episcopal School of Acadiana’s Broussard campus on Wednesday, Parks Middle School on Thursday and will return to St. Martinville Junior High on Friday.

The MOLU, according to a press release, features “curriculum-based, hands-on activities about energy” and its lessons are based on national science standards. Transported via truck and trailer, the unit sets up shop in school gyms and can accommodate nearly 200 students per day.

OEC has announced that a second MOLU will be permanently housed in Lafayette to serve the Gulf Coast and beyond. Local energy companies are underwriting the project, with seed sponsorship coming from Chevron, ConocoPhilliips, Marathon Oil Co., National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger and Shell.