Introduction
The objective of a petroleum engineer is to find and exploit a source of oil. Often posted abroad, he may be called upon to work on off-shore installations, at sea, or on-shore, on land. As a technical manager, he prepares the operating program, designs and also manages the equipment, studies the most suitable techniques, ensures that safety standards are followed.
Responsibilities
- The responsibilities of a petroleum engineer involve creating and designing oil and gas extraction techniques, equipment, and procedures.
- Study drilling, transport, and processing techniques adapted to the location and also the type of operation
- Ensure technical follow-up
- Ensuring unit safety
- Analyzes a natural deposit;
- Determines the costs of drilling oil and gas wells, as well as the restoration of the field after the development
- Evaluate the conditions and specifics of oil or gas production.
- Participates in the preparation of technological regimes for the operation of wells and other production facilities
- Controls the volume and also the quality of the working agent, injected into the reservoir.
- Organizes timely preparation of oil and gas facilities for repair
- Controls the quality of repair work at oil and gas facilities
- Regulates the rational use of material and technical means and transport
- Keeps records of accidents in production wells and also process units
- Analyzes the causes of accidents, take part in the development of measures for their prevention and elimination
- Knows, understands, and applies the current regulatory documents relating to its activities.
- Knows and fulfills the requirements of regulatory acts on labor and environmental protection
- Participates in the preparation of orders (job orders) for underground and also work-over wells
- Complies with the norms, methods, and techniques for the safe performance of work
Education and Licensure
To become a petroleum engineer, you must have followed a general education in an engineering school or a university. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum to practice as a petroleum engineer in the United States. And this takes about four (4) years to acquire. Although, some colleges offer a five (5) year program that leads to a master’s degree.
The coursework for petroleum engineering includes principles in engineering, thermodynamics, and geology. To gain admission into an ABET-accredited program, students must have taken courses in maths, physics, chemistry, and biology during high school. It is also important to note that studying in an ABET-accredited engineering program is a minimum requirement for some employers.
License is not relevant for entry-level jobs in petroleum engineering. However, some states in the United States require petroleum engineers to be licensed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021, state licensure requires:
- A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
- Relevant work experience typically at least four (4) years
- A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam.
- A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Salary
The average yearly salary of petroleum engineers in the United States is $137,330. The salary, however, ranges from $78,620 and $208,000. Most engineers work full-time. Petroleum engineers who function in the management of companies and enterprises receive the highest pay compared to others.
Career Developments
The major oil groups can offer career prospects, especially internationally. A petroleum engineer can, with experience, create his own design office.
The labor activity of a petroleum engineer can be carried out both in an office environment and with a visit to the field site. The work of petroleum engineers is usually associated with business trips to distant corners of the country. In addition, a specialist can also take part in research conferences, symposiums, and exhibition events.
Knowledge and skills
A qualified petroleum engineer must have fundamental education and practical experience. The primary skills of a petroleum engineer include:
- Availability of specialized higher professional education;
- Practical experience in conducting geological exploration and surveys, as well as the presence of a minimum work experience;
- Excellent skills in working with a computer and software in the field of graphic modeling, for example, knowledge of AutoCAD;
- Possessing the skills of strategic management, planning, and leadership of people;
- Good knowledge of English and the ability to perform technical translations.
- The specialist must always be ready to be sent on long business trips and also work in non-standard conditions. A petroleum engineer belongs to the category of managers, his experience and high level of responsibility presuppose a high salary level.
Qualities
- Adaptability
- The ability to work in a team
- Rigor and also organizational qualities
