Mission Statement

The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) is an industry funded education program established to promote a positive public awareness of Ohio's oil and gas drilling and producing industry. OOGEEP will communicate information about the oil and natural gas industry, environmental and safety issues, and the vital contribution of oil and gas to Ohio's economy. OOGEEP will send its message by cooperating with schools, by conducting and supporting education programs for teachers and the public, by utilizing media and marketing resources, and by supporting research activities.

About Us

The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) is a non-profit statewide education and public outreach program. Created in 1998, OOGEEP provides a variety of programs throughout the State of Ohio. These programs primarily focus on teacher workshops, scholarships, student education, firefighter training, industry workforce development, research, landowner and guest speaker programs.

OOGEEP has gained respect from a variety of target markets by earning a reputation as a credible state and nationally recognized program. Providing factual information about the crude oil and natural gas industry, many programs have related curriculum and materials that meet state and national standards.

Since 1998, OOGEEP has positively impacted more than 2,500 Ohio teachers, 100,000 students and 750 emergency responders. OOGEEP has also made over 200 public presentations, and the combined media campaigns have reached over 4,000,000 Ohio residents. Many of these programs took several years to develop, and initially required a significant amount of research and development funds. OOGEEP is considered a creditable resource by the educational, emergency response, regulatory, and general public communities.

OOGEEP is voluntarily funded by Ohio's crude oil and natural gas industry and does not utilize any taxpayer dollars. Producers and Royalty Owners fund OOGEEP through a voluntary assessment on the production of all crude oil and natural gas produced in Ohio. The assessment on crude oil is five cents ($0.05) per gross barrel of crude oil and one cent ($0.01) per gross Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of natural gas produced in Ohio. The assessment is collected by first purchasers of crude oil and natural gas and remitted quarterly directly to OOGEEP.

This investment by Ohio's crude oil and natural gas producers underscores their continuing commitment to:

• Promote Safe and Environmentally Sound Operating Practices;
• Improve the Efficiency of Finding and Producing Local Energy Supplies;
• Help the General Public, and Others, Better Understand the Vital Importance of Ohio's Crude Oil and Natural Gas Industry.

Awards

Outstanding Project (Teacher Education)

Ohio EPA/ Ohio Environmental Education Fund

Special Recognition Award for Training & Safety

Wayne County Fire & Rescue Association

Top 5 Finalists

Best Public Outreach Program

World Oil Magazine

Friend of Science Award

Science Education Council of Ohio

Presidential Award

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Stewardship Recognition

Wayne National Forest

Public Outreach Stewardship Award

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission

Minerals Education Award

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Mineral Resources Management

Workhorse Award

Southeastern Ohio Oil and Gas Association