What does a petroleum engineer do?

Petroleum engineers rank among the least happy careers. Overall they rank in the 25th percentile of careers for satisfaction scores. Please note that this number is derived from the data we have collected from our Sokanu members only.

This low happiness quotient may be influenced by the potential dangers and risks connected with the occupation. The ranking could also be related to the fact that petroleum engineers may periodically face extended periods of unemployment, due to industry slowdowns.

Based on our pool of users, petroleum engineers tend to be predominately enterprising people. They are comfortable with making recommendations for multi-million dollar projects and with their overall high level of responsibility. They commonly take pride in the knowledge that without oil and gas, first world countries would not exist and third world countries could not accelerate their development. Petroleum engineers feel that in many ways they power the world.

It generally takes four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree required to enter the petroleum engineering field. Some aspiring engineers will study for an additional year to earn a joint Bachelor’s/Master’s degree offered by some schools.

Becoming an accomplished petroleum engineer starts with laying a strong foundation in high school, progresses with pursuing an accredited university program, and advances with a career-long commitment to the profession.

Are you a fan of math and science who is fascinated by the world below the surface of the earth? If so, a career as a petroleum engineer may be for you.

Of course, much more than a fascination is required to succeed in the field. And beyond the needed technical knowledge gained via formal education and experience, accomplished petroleum engineers must bring the following soft skills to work every day:

 Analytical skills Petroleum engineers must be able to assess complex plans for drilling and anticipate possible flaws or complications before a company commits money and personnel to a specific project.

 Creativity Every new drill site presents challenges and demands that petroleum engineers ask the necessary questions to ultimately find ways to extract oil and gas.

 Interpersonal skills Petroleum engineers must collaborate with other engineers, scientists, gas workers, and drillers to resolve issues of design, testing, and research. Projects commonly involve expensive equipment and infrastructure. Communicating and working effectively with multi-disciplinary teams is therefore crucial to protecting and preserving firms’ huge capital investments.

 Problem-solving skills Identifying problems in drilling plans is a critical component of the petroleum engineer’s job. Overlooking an issue or a delay in resolving it can jeopardize a project and significantly increase the already high cost of drilling.

 Math skills Engineers in this field use the principles of calculus and other advanced mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting.

 Computer skills Computers play an increasingly important role in this industry. They are used to analyze data collected during fieldwork, to automate oilfield production, and to build models simulating reservoir drilling methods. In fact, petroleum companies own many of the supercomputers currently in use around the world.

Anyone who considers a career in petroleum engineering should be prepared for continuous learning. While many classroom-based engineering principles remain the same, technology and methods are always shifting, and the increasing issue of global climate change is inescapably intruding upon the profession, forcing industries to adapt.

Finally, individuals looking to enter this profession need to consider three other demands of the job: They must be willing to work both indoors and outdoors. They must be prepared to sometimes travel for long periods of time to supervise drilling operations abroad. They must accept the degree of risk associated with exposure to drilling fluids and other chemicals, hazardous noise levels, and working in confined spaces.