Petroleum Engineers plan methods for recovering maximum amounts of petroleum and natural gas in oil-field operations.

JOB DUTIES 

Petroleum Engineers may:

Study maps of subsurface oil and gas reservoirs and analyze plans for the location of wells

Evaluate probable well production rate and the economic value of gas and oil properties

Recommend processes to enhance recovery of oil and gas

Develop well drilling plans including time, testing, costs, and material requirements

Consult during drilling operations to resolve problems

Advise substitution of drilling mud compounds or tool bits

Inspect the well to determine that final casing and tubing installations are complete

Plan for the removal of contaminants and the separation of oil and gas products flowing from the well

Monitor well production rates and keep production records

Correct well production by such processes as repacking well bore

Apply knowledge of petroleum engineering to solve environmental and safety problems

Design oil field equipment

Prepare reports and environmental impact statements and conduct special studies

Serve as consultants

Click to watch Petroleum Engineers at work!

The tools, equipment, machines, and work aids used may include:

• Computers (with Internet access) and computerized monitoring equipment

• Acids, solvents, polymers, and other special chemicals

• Engineering reports, charts, and logs

• Fire and other safety equipment

• Drilling rigs, compressors, well heads, and valves

• Cellular telephones

• Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's)

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Petroleum Engineers may specialize in these areas:

010.061-018 PETROLEUM ENGINEERS plan methods for recovering maximum amounts of petroleum and natural gas in oil-field operations.

010.161-014 CHIEF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS plan and direct the overall engineering activities of a petroleum company to develop oil fields and produce oil and gas.

010.161-010 CHIEF RESEARCH ENGINEERS coordinate research activities to develop new and improved methods of drilling wells and producing oil and gas.

010.167-014 MUD-ANALYSIS ENGINEERS plan and direct mud-sample testing operations. They interpret drilling logs to determine the status of the wells being drilled, plan and coordinate itineraries for mobile field crews, and report mud-analysis data to engineering team members.

Other areas of specialization include reservoir, petrophysical, process, oil pollution control, ocean, and oil field equipment sales engineering.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Petroleum Engineers usually work as part of an engineering team. Depending on the particular position, they may supervise other Engineers, technicians, clerks, or other workers. Those engaged in design, consulting, or research spend most of their time in offices or laboratories which are comfortable, modern, and well equipped. Those working in oil fields must work outside in all kinds of weather. Those who work at well sites may have work that is strenuous and dirty. Engineers in the field must practice strict safety and fire prevention techniques and wear protective clothing.

Working hours for Petroleum Engineers depend on the kind of work being done. Those working in offices or laboratories usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Overtime may be necessary in order to complete projects. Those working in the field may work perhaps 7 days a week at off-shore drilling rigs. Some travel is required when working on special projects or at well sites. Petroleum Engineers may join professional associations, such as the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Members must pay periodic membership fees.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities involving the communication of data

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities involving machines, processes, and techniques

• Activities which bring recognition from others

You Should Be Able To:

• Reason logically/use logical step-by-step procedures in your work

• Understand the meanings of words and present information effectively

• Perform mathematical operations quickly and accurately

• Visualize three-dimensional objects from diagrams

• See detail in objects or drawings

• Recognize differences in shapes and shadings

• Direct and plan an entire activity or the activities of others

• Make decisions using personal judgment or verifiable data

• Have agreeable working relationships with others

• Perform work within precise standards of accuracy

• Perform a variety of duties which change often

Math Problem You Should Be Able To Solve:

An oil pipeline has a radius of 2 meters and is 300 yards long. If the pump is operating at 60 gallons per hour, how much oil passes through the entire pipeline in an hour?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

The word "capable" is very significant here. It takes into account the fact that a force may be acting on an object, but its capability to produce a change in motion may be balanced or canceled by another force or forces so that the net effect is zero.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You might have to write environmental impact statements, which are reports explaining what effects drilling activity is having on the environment.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Produce:

If a well is working improperly, you have to deduce reasons why and then arrive at solutions for correcting the problem.  

Engineers that provide professional services affecting health, life, or property must be licensed by the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Board of Professional Engineers to practice in Michigan. The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click  here   for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Engineer, Licensed Professional for specific licensing information.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

058 ENGINEERING (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)

Pre-Engineering Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to professional engineering colleges.

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to engineering schools. Students should contact the engineering schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional adviser to ensure that admission prerequisites will be met.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.

186 PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

Programs in Petroleum Engineering provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed in applying engineering principles to the design and management of petroleum production systems. Skills in production, transportation, evaluation, and storage of oil and gas may also be learned.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration script

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this Career Exploration script 

E-Learning Courses and Programs   

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Summer or part-time jobs for petroleum companies may give students the opportunity to observe Petroleum Engineers at work and experience working conditions. High school students may join the  Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS)  or participate in programs. College students may join local student chapters of national engineering associations such as the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. Postsecondary education programs in petroleum engineering may offer co-op work opportunities.            

            School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Petroleum Engineer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Petroleum Engineer employer

community service work with an agency

The most common method of entry is to apply directly to employers. Petroleum Engineers wishing to work for government agencies usually must take civil service exams. Assistance in obtaining a job is also available from college or university placement offices. In addition, some professional associations provide placement assistance to their members. The Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME publishes the monthly, "Journal of Petroleum Technology ", which lists job openings. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

NSPE Career Center

EngineerJobs

OilOnline

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal

Michigan Talent Bank

Simply Hired

Indeed | one search. all jobs.

MONSTER.COM

Yahoo! hotjobs

Career Builder

            You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Petroleum Engineers depend on their education and experience; level of responsibility; and the type, size, and geographic location of the employer. For example, Petroleum Engineers working in locations such as Alaska or the Middle East receive significantly higher salaries than do those employed in most other areas. Petroleum engineering is one of the highest paid engineering specialties.

Nationally, in mid 2006, annual salaries for experienced Petroleum Engineers averaged $122,570. In mid 2006, licensed professional Petroleum Engineers earned:

Some Petroleum Engineers earned up to $231,880 or more annually.  The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $33,852 in 2005.

Salary offers to recent graduates with bachelor's degrees in petroleum engineering averaged $62,236 a year, with a range of $57,500 to $68,000 in late 2005.

Depending on their college records, minimum starting salaries (2006) of Petroleum Engineers employed by the federal government were $32,755 or $40,569 with a bachelor's degree, $48,359 or $52,349 with a master's degree, and $59,050 with a doctorate.  The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

Fringe benefits usually include paid vacations and holidays, life insurance, health and hospitalization insurance, paid sick leave, retirement plans, and employee savings and stock investment plans. Employers may also pay expenses for additional education.

Experience, personal ability, and advanced education are the most important factors in advancement. As Petroleum Engineers gain experience, they may move to positions of increased responsibility and may enter managerial or administrative positions or become self-employed. Advanced college degrees in engineering, business administration, or law may be helpful.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were approximately 16,200 Petroleum Engineers employed in 2004. Employment of Petroleum Engineers is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. The industry distribution for Petroleum Engineer looked like this:

Most of them work in the oil-producing states of Texas, California, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Federal Offshore (i.e. Gulf of Mexico) and Alaska. Also many U.S. based Petroleum Engineers work overseas in oil producing countries.

The employment of Petroleum Engineers is uncertain as it is dependent on the rate of world economic expansion, the availability of alternatives to oil, the rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and world market prices for petroleum products. Petroleum Engineers will be needed to locate new sources of oil and gas, to develop more sophisticated recovery and processing methods, and reduce environmental problems associated with oil and gas production. Growth in off-shore oil development will contribute to the demand for these Engineers.  Employment of petroleum engineers is expected to decline because most of the potential petroleum-producing areas in the United States already have been explored. Even so, favorable opportunities are expected for petroleum engineers because the number of job openings is likely to exceed the relatively small number of graduates.

Approximately 40 Petroleum Engineers are employed in Michigan. Most worked in urban areas in the western half of the lower peninsula. Most Petroleum Engineers worked for petroleum and natural gas production companies. Some also worked for manufacturing firms, and government agencies. A few worked for metal mining companies.  

Employment of Petroleum Engineers in Michigan is expected to decline through the year 2012. Because the number of Petroleum Engineers employed in the state is small, fewer than 10 openings per year should occur due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur, some for growth and others as workers change jobs or occupations. In Michigan, the amount of oil and gas exploration and production is sensitive to world market prices for petroleum products. Lower prices lead to less exploration and recovery, therefore, to lower levels of employment for Petroleum Engineers. Opportunities will be best for experienced Petroleum Engineers trained in the latest methods of oil exploration and recovery.

MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2012

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

    Copyright © 2007 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth