Petroleum Engineering

1. Petroleum Engineering Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

2. Petroleum Engineering Overview: Petroleum engineers search the world for reservoirs containing oil or natural gas. Once these resources are discovered, petroleum engineers work with geologists and other specialists to understand the geologic formation and properties of the rock containing the reservoir, determine the drilling methods to be used, and monitor drilling and production operations. They design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable recovery of oil and gas. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

3. Petroleum Engineering Overview (continued): Because only a small proportion of oil and gas in a reservoir will flow out under natural forces, petroleum engineers develop and use various enhanced recovery methods. These include injecting water, chemicals, gases, or steam into an oil reservoir to force out more of the oil, and computer-controlled drilling or fracturing to connect a larger area of a reservoir to a single well. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

4. Petroleum Engineering Preparation: A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and computer and information technology. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

5. Petroleum Engineering Preparation (continued): Bachelor's degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their studies. In a typical 4-year college curriculum, the first 2 years are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences, introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Petroleum engineering students may also take courses such as Reservoir Petrophysics, Petroleum Engineering Systems, and Physical Geology during these years. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

6. Petroleum Engineering Preparation (continued): In the last 2 years, a petroleum engineering program might include courses in Drilling and Production Systems, Geostatistics, Well Performance, Reservoir Fluids, Petroleum Project Evaluation, Engineering Ethics, and Well Completion and Stimulation. Those interested in a career in petroleum engineering should consider reviewing engineering programs that are accredited. A full list is on the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center website. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life– Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

7. Petroleum Engineering Day in the Life: A degree in petroleum engineering can lead to many career paths. While most work directly for oil and gas production companies, the options for work are broad and cross over many industries. Petroleum engineers focus on a wide range of projects and activities. Some focus on production challenges, identifying, testing, and implementing methods for improving oil and gas production. They might focus on economics, helping a team determine the optimum number of wells appropriate for a given operation. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

8. Petroleum Engineering Day in the Life (continued): A petroleum engineer may focus on safety issues, or maintenance support, identifying and planning upgrades of equipment or systems. A petroleum engineer may choose to teach, or to serve as a consultant to investors, banks, or other financial services firms. The type of job a petroleum engineer has will often determine whether how much they work inside or outside. Many petroleum engineers work on job sites, but others work in an office setting. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

9. Petroleum Engineering Day in the Life (continued): A consultant to the financial industry, for example, may spend most of their time working in an office setting. There are strong international travel opportunities for petroleum engineers, as it is very much a global business. Many companies have offices and sites in multiple countries and transfers are common. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

10. Petroleum Engineering Earnings: Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Even so, as a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor's degrees. According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for petroleum engineers is $108,020. The lowest 10% earned $57,820. The highest 10% earned over $166,400. They are among the highest paid engineers. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

11. Petroleum Engineering Employment: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, petroleum engineers hold about 21,900 jobs in the United States. Petroleum engineers work mostly in oil and gas extraction, professional, scientific and technical services, and petroleum refining. Employers include major oil companies and hundreds of smaller, independent oil exploration, production, research institutes, and service companies. Most petroleum engineers work where oil and gas are found. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

12. Petroleum Engineering Career Path Forecast: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, petroleum engineers are expected to have employment growth of 18 percent over the projections decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Petroleum engineers increasingly will be needed to develop new resources, as well as new methods of extracting more from existing sources. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

13. Petroleum Engineering Career Path Forecast (continued): Excellent opportunities are expected for petroleum engineers because the number of job openings is likely to exceed the relatively small number of graduates. Petroleum engineers work around the world, and in fact, the best employment opportunities may include some work in other countries. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

14. Petroleum Engineering Resources: More information about Petroleum Engineering is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including employer lists, Petroleum Engineering programs, suggestions for precollege students, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF that summarizes the field. Associations: American Association of Petroleum Geologists American Gas Association American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers American Petroleum Institute Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration Society of Petroleum Engineers Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.