The profession of petroleum engineer has been around for than a century now. It was first introduced in 1914. Even after the invention of many new energy sources, petroleum still remains the topmost source of energy with a lot of scope to make a career in it. Petroleum engineers are concerned with the exploration and production of gas and oil. They need to have deep knowledge of the various specialisations that are involved in their profession like geology, drilling, extraction, engineering systems, economics and more. It’s a rewarding profession that requires a lot of dedication.
There are three types of petroleum engineers:
Reservoir Engineers – They are the ones in charge of looking after and improving the production of oil and gas. They need to have in-depth knowledge in physics, chemistry, and mathematics that are involved in the discovery of reservoirs in various geological terrains.
Drilling Engineers – Drilling engineers are completely involved in the technology aspect of drilling. They have to innovate new and improved drilling technology that makes the whole drilling process more efficient and productive. Thanks to drilling engineers, we now have fracking technology and are able to extract from shale oil and gas. Previously, there was no way of getting to shale oil and gas from shale reserves.
Production Engineers – Production engineers are involved in designing and operation of the technology once the well is drilled. They have to ensure the inflow and outflow is good, and the technology to extract and store oil and gas is working well. They are also involved in selecting lift equipment like plunger lift, gas lift, subsurface pumps, submersible pumps, hydraulic pumps, etc.
Skill Required by Petroleum Engineers
Deep Knowledge of Math and Sciences – Though is a requirement in most engineering professions, it is more so when it comes to petroleum engineering. Oil and gas are a precious commodity; hence, the engineers have to be accurate at all times.
Understanding of Technology – The petroleum industry is a technology-driven industry. It’s thanks to new technology, extraction and production have become cleaner and more efficient. Therefore, engineers are expected to improve exploration, extraction, transportation, and production technology.
Comfort with Travel – Many people see this as a huge advantage. Petroleum engineers have to travel all over the country, and many time overseas. Many of them are also required to be onsite, sometimes to conduct repairs. So, forget boring 9 to 5 jobs.
Demand
There’s a huge demand for petroleum engineers, not just in India and OPEC nations, but in the Western countries as well. As there is a lot of expertise involved in this profession, this is quite a high-paying job. There are also many perks offered to petroleum engineers. This is one of the fastest rising profession as many students are looking past traditional engineering fields. Therefore, for a successful and fulfilling career, petroleum engineering is a good choice.
Petroleum Engineering at Presidency University
Presidency University in Bangalore has one of the strongest undergraduate and graduate course for petroleum engineering. Students get to learn from highly experienced faculty and industry experts. They strictly learn from the latest, updated curriculum. Their course covers both, inflow and outflow aspects of petroleum engineering. Students can also make a career in the research and development aspect of the industry, as India is expected to be the hub for R&D. Admissions are ongoing. Download the application form, and apply to be a petroleum engineer today!
