Best Career Options After Petroleum Engineering [2024 Guide]

Best Career Options after Petroleum Engineering Degree(Latest Guide)

Table of Contents

Petroleum engineering is involved in practically every aspect of oil and gas field evaluation, development, and production. Their goals are to find the most effective approach to drill for hydrocarbons and to fix any problems that arise during operation. Petroleum engineers may also be in charge of making the most of outdated or underperforming wells and utilizing innovative drilling equipment and methods. Petroleum engineers have the responsibility of minimizing the environmental impact of drilling throughout the whole extraction process.

Get Certified! Get Confident! Join our Oil and Gas Course! Today!

Career Options after Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineers can pursue a variety of career paths, like:

Drilling Engineer

Drilling engineers create, develop, and implement guidelines and protocols to drill wells profitably and safely. To operate oil and gas wells, they collaborate with geologists, drilling and service contractors, technological elements, etc. To put it simply, they are in charge of developing, planning, budgeting, and overseeing oil and gas wells. To pursue a career as a drilling engineer, a candidate must have earned a BE or BTech in petroleum engineering as an undergraduate. In India, a drilling engineer typically makes INR 1.3 lakhs a month.

Petroleum Production Engineer

A Petroleum production Engineer’s major goal is to maximise oil and gas output while remaining cost-effective. One of the candidates’ responsibilities is to keep an eye on the output in a well or collection of wells. To create oil and gas fluids, they plan and choose the equipment as well as the stratum. To work as a Petroleum Production Engineer, an applicant must hold a BE or BTech in Petroleum Engineering from an undergraduate institution. Applicants may also pursue careers as petroleum production engineers if they hold a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering. In India, the average monthly compensation for a petroleum production engineer is INR 70000.

Natural Gas Engineer

Natural gas engineers are responsible for safely and efficiently extracting petroleum and other natural resources from the earth. To get rid of the oils and gases, they employ drills, chemicals, and other gases and equipment. And to achieve this, they make use of the most effective tactics developed taking into account variables like the gas volume, the geology, and other resources available at the location prior to evacuation. To pursue a lucrative career as a natural gas engineer, a petroleum engineering bachelor’s degree holder may choose to pursue a master’s degree in the field. In India, the average monthly compensation for a natural gas engineer is INR 1.2 lakhs.

Completion Engineer

Completion Engineers plan, design, and build wells to increase production. Completion Engineers design efficient techniques to flow gas and oil through pipes based on their experience in the oil and gas sector. Employment prospects should increase by 8% between 2020 and 2030, and completion engineers have a plethora of employment options. To become a completion engineer, a candidate must hold a petroleum engineering bachelor’s degree, either a BE or BTech. In India, a completion engineer makes, on average, INR 33000 per month.

Reservoir Engineer

Scientists use reservoir engineers’ calculations to determine how much gas and oil can be extracted from the reservoirs. A reservoir engineer’s everyday tasks include establishing data-gathering techniques, sustaining daily operations in oil and gas fields, and optimising recovery plans. To pursue a career as a reservoir engineer, an applicant must have finished an undergraduate degree in geology, petroleum engineering, or a similar discipline. Additionally, a candidate must have two years of practical expertise with reservoirs in the oil and gas industry. In India, a reservoir engineer makes an average of INR 1.3 lakhs a month.

Oil Exploration Engineer

The search for oil and gas resources is the responsibility of an oil exploration engineer. The ultimate goal is to meet the nation’s energy requirements. Often referred to as petroleum engineers or exploration engineers, their daily tasks include selecting various drilling techniques, developing and building the equipment needed to extract the resources, and organising and supervising the drilling operations. An aspirant ought to have earned a petroleum engineering bachelor’s degree, either a BE or BTech. In India, the average monthly compensation for an oil exploration engineer is INR 20,000.

Professor

A Petroleum Engineering graduate can pursue a teaching career and lecture on natural resource themes. A applicant must obtain his Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering and pass both the state and national admission tests in order to become a professor in a college. When a student finishes Petroleum Engineering, the lecturers help them select a stream.

Get Certified! Get Confident! Join our Oil and Gas Course! Today!

The Skills Needed to Work as a Petroleum Engineering

These skills will help you succeed in your career as a petroleum engineer.

Technical skills

Petroleum engineers must be technically skilled because they use their knowledge of geological principles, extraction procedures, and drilling equipment to locate, drill, and extract oil and gas from subsurface deposits. Geomechanics, reservoir design, petroleum geology, reservoir thermodynamics, and other topics are crucial for petroleum engineers to understand. These are the kinds of abilities you can hone while pursuing a petroleum engineering degree, in an internship, and in the workplace. Petroleum engineers may also use a variety of software, so being able to recognise and understand the most crucial ones can help you succeed in your position.

Analytical skills

Analytical and critical thinking abilities are necessary for petroleum engineers as they examine the geological data at their disposal to locate underground fossil fuel reserves. They assess the oil’s quality and calculate how much can be extracted. After that, petroleum engineers consider carefully how to extract the oil and provide senior management at their petrochemical firm with advice for reservoir investments. In order to produce reports, petroleum engineers frequently need to handle a lot of data, so analytical abilities are crucial.

Interpersonal skills

Petroleum engineers can build positive working relationships with individuals by having strong interpersonal skills because they collaborate with several departments. They can collaborate with professionals at all levels of the hierarchy with less friction thanks to it. Since petroleum engineers typically operate in teams, being able to work well with others can facilitate collaboration in a variety of settings.

Communication

Senior management receives reports from petroleum engineers. To locate fossil fuel deposits, they collaborate closely with scientists and geologists. When the extraction process starts, they also provide direction to the drilling crew. Petroleum engineers supervise the construction of the machinery and equipment and collaborate closely with the support engineering group. Proficiency in communication facilitates the easy interchange of ideas and communications between petroleum engineers and various groups of people.

Problem-solving

Drilling and extraction machinery is the responsibility of petroleum engineers. There are occasions when unexpected events at work, permission issues, or broken equipment can all lead to expensive losses. Petroleum engineers that possess strong problem-solving abilities can adopt a solution-focused mindset and address issues as soon as they arise. These problem-solving abilities can also be useful for anticipating future occurrences and spotting errors in drilling plans before they materialise.

How to Become a Petroleum Engineer?

The following is a step-by-step guide that will assist you in your career as a petroleum engineer:

Earn a bachelor’s degree

The first step towards becoming a petroleum engineer is to complete a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering after graduating from high school. Pursuing science in your 10+2 year can aid in your understanding of the courses offered in your undergraduate engineering programme, should you want to become a petroleum engineer. While chemical and mechanical engineering are equally viable career paths, hiring managers can favour applicants with a petroleum engineering degree in their selection procedures. At least 50% in upper secondary education can aid in your admission to a reputable university. The following are the many petroleum engineering undergraduate degree options:

Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in petroleum engineering
BTech in petrochemical engineering
BTech in applied petroleum engineering
BTech in petroleum refinery engineering
BTech in petroleum reservoir and production engineering

Pursue higher education

After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can go straight to the master’s programme in petroleum engineering to increase your chances of getting hired for senior roles in the oil and gas industry. Alternatively, you could work as a petroleum engineer for a few years before going back to school for a master’s degree. Obtaining a master’s degree can help you advance in your work by granting you access to more significant positions. If you studied a different engineering subject for your bachelor’s degree but would still wish to work in a mainstream petroleum engineering profession, you can also study a master’s in petroleum engineering. The several master’s programmes in petroleum engineering include:

Master of Technology (MTech) in petroleum exploration
MTech petroleum refinery engineering
MTech in petroleum refining and petrochemical engineering

Gain experience

The next stage is to apply for positions after gaining experience as an intern in petroleum engineering. This will teach you how to put theoretical concepts into reality, help you comprehend the working environment of petroleum engineers, and help you acquire skills that you might require at work. You can collaborate together with reservoir and drilling experts during your internship to supervise and comprehend various oil drilling and extraction procedures. Applications for internships in petroleum engineering are available on websites like Indeed.

Update your resume

Updating your CV is the next step after obtaining all the required credentials and internship experience. Include a list of all your degrees and emphasise the experience you gained from your internship. Include industry-specific keywords in your resume and include a separate section listing any software you are proficient with that is relevant to your field. Include a section highlighting pertinent abilities that will support your success as a petroleum engineer.

Apply for jobs

After your CV is complete, you can use job boards to apply for jobs. Additionally, job openings are listed on company websites, and you can apply straight from the careers page. Put a cover letter with your CV on each application you submit for a job. Use pertinent keywords from the job description and personalise your cover letter for every application. If you know the recruiting manager’s name, use it to address the letter and do your research about the company.

Get Certified! Get Confident! Join our Oil and Gas Course! Today!

Challenges and Rewards of Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering has its own set of benefits and challenges, much like any other job. Gaining insight into these elements will help you determine whether this career path fits with your objectives and areas of interest.

Working Conditions and Lifestyle

Spending time on offshore platforms or in isolated areas where oil and gas reserves are located is a common part of working as a petroleum engineer. Long stretches of time spent away from home and exposure to inclement weather may be necessary for this. But as technology advances, remote monitoring and control systems proliferate, providing more flexible employment arrangements.

Salary and Benefits

Petroleum engineers earn a good living for their knowledge and contributions to the business. Numerous businesses provide alluring perks including retirement plans, health insurance, and chances for career advancement.

Career Satisfaction and Growth Opportunities

The sense of satisfaction that comes from working on challenging projects and meeting the world’s energy demands is one of the major benefits of becoming a petroleum engineer. The field’s ongoing technological advancements offer lots of chances for career advancement and lifelong learning.

Is a Career in Petroleum Engineering a Good Choice?

Petroleum engineering is a suitable career path for those interested in environmental studies and geology. It provides a healthy work-life balance and is a low-stress vocation. To increase their hunt for new oil and gas sources, petrochemical corporations hire qualified petroleum engineers on a constant basis. Compared to various other engineering career classifications, petroleum engineers often earn a higher pay.

FAQs

Q1. What are the skills required to become a petroleum engineer?

Ans: Strong technical, problem-solving, teamworking, IT, numerical and analytical skills, etc., are some required skills.

Q2. What to learn as a petroleum engineer?

Ans: Petroleum engineering candidates study geology, reservoir fluids, fluid flow, well drilling, petroleum production, and reservoir analysis.

Q3. Is a career in petroleum engineering a good fit?

Ans: A career in petroleum engineering can be financially profitable because they often make significant money. People can concentrate on subjects that interest them because petroleum engineering encompasses a wide range of specialisations, from reservoir engineering to drilling and production. A fulfilling career in petroleum engineering can be attained by individuals who are passionate about the field, understand technical challenges, and are flexible enough to adjust to changing conditions.

Q4. What level of education is necessary to become a petroleum engineer?

Ans: A bachelor’s degree in geology, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or petroleum engineering—or a closely related field—is the most common path to becoming a petroleum engineer.

Entri App – Best Online app for Oil and Gas Course

Entri’s Oil and Gas Course is one of our most popular programmes, designed specifically for students interested in a rewarding career in the oil and gas business. It’s ideal for people who want to work in India and other countries for a good salary.

Entri’s ‘Oil and Gas Course’ is not a typical classroom experience. It’s a comprehensive training programme that gives you the abilities and information need to be successful in the fascinating field of oil and gas. You’ll have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in practical settings, which will enhance the value of your education and increase your chances of finding a fantastic job.

Key Differentiations