Petroleum Engineer

Career Description : Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

A Day in the Life of a Petroleum Engineer

• Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications.
• Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
• Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
• Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment.
• Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
• Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.

What Every Petroleum Engineer Should Know

Petroleum Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work:

• Reading Comprehension : Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Active Listening : Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking : Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Complex Problem Solving : Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Writing : Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Critical Thinking : Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Types of Petroleum Engineer Jobs

• Production Engineer
• Completions Engineer
• Well Logging Captain
• Prospecting Observer

Average Petroleum Engineers Salary

Petroleum Engineers make between $74,270 and $208,000 a year. Petroleum Engineers who work in Indiana, New Jersey, or Texas , make the highest salaries.

Tools & Technologies Used by Petroleum Engineers

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Petroleum Engineers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Python
• Microsoft Access
• SAP
• Microsoft Project
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Microsoft Visio
• The MathWorks MATLAB
• SAS
• IBM Notes
• R
• Oracle software
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
• Google Analytics

How to Become a Petroleum Engineer

What education is needed to be a Petroleum Engineer?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Petroleum Engineer?

Who Employs Petroleum Engineers?

The table below shows the approximate number of Petroleum Engineers employed by various industries.