Since the services provided by the landman to the
oil and gas exploration industry and other industries are so varied it is not uncommon for a landman to specialize in several different aspects of the profession at the same time. The term "landman" can also be interchanged with "land manager". Numerous other industries, in addition to the petroleum industry, often require the skills and expertise of the landman, one of which is the wind industry. Wind development requires the locating of surface sites for turbines, determining surface ownership, negotiating lease agreements, and has many other similar duties performed by the petroleum landman. Telecommunications, pipeline, power, and transportation projects, linear in nature, are generally right-of-way (ROW) projects and are usually staffed by ROW agents. The terms "landman" and "right-of-way agent" are often used interchangeably; however, their duties often vary significantly. Landmen typically deal with site-specific projects (drill site) and leases, whereas ROW agents deal with linear corridor projects that can cross the interstate and usually involve easement conveyance. A particular degree is often not required of someone interested in becoming a landman, though it is favored. Few universities offer a petroleum land management degree but Western Colorado University "Western", the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa, the University of Louisiana Lafayette, Texas Tech University, and the University of Calgary are among those that do. The first and largest petroleum land management program was created in 1958 at the University of Oklahoma. It has since been re-branded as the "Energy Management Program". The AACSB International Southwestern Business Deans Association honored the program with The Most Innovative in Excellence Award for Curriculum Design. Someone interested in becoming a landman without obtaining a degree might go to the county courthouse and approach researchers in the Recorder's Office or Records Room. Oftentimes, the individuals seen researching here are landmen. No experience is needed to take photos of books, and offering this service can be a foot in the door. Attempting to "shadow" a landman in a courthouse that you do not know is an easy way to get blackballed in that county, as some individuals will go to courthouses specifically to try to poach areas from other companies. Other times, individuals may contact a company looking for landmen that are open to training someone with no experience in the field. Compensation or salary varies and is dependent on many factors such as experience, geographic location, and the number of qualified landmen available in a given area. Many lawyers are practicing landmen and landmen/oil and gas attorneys. Due to the collapse in energy prices in the late 1980s which lasted for nearly two decades, into the early 2000s, most landmen who survived were retiring and most universities and colleges that offered petroleum land management degrees no longer did so. The resulting attrition combined with the spike in energy prices in the mid-2000s reversed the trends of earlier years and created a significant shortage of available landmen. The subsequent global financial collapse that began in 2008 once again reversed the boom and employment opportunities will likely continue their cyclical nature for years to come. == American Association of Professional Landmen ==