Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the subsurface activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. It is the method of finding and distillating petroleum oil or natural gas from the earth and turning it into usable fuel.

Petroleum Engineers are the people who perform this work by using high-tech equipment and computers. 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. Petroleum engineers rely heavily on computer models to simulate reservoir performance using different recovery techniques. They also use computer models for simulations of the effects of various drilling options. The other segments in this engineering are optimize production of oil and gas via proper well placement, production levels, and enhanced oil recovery techniques. Drilling Engineers manage the technical aspects of drilling exploratory, production and injection wells. Production Engineers manage the interface between the reservoir and the well, including perforations, sand control, downhole flow control, and downhole monitoring equipment; evaluate artificial lift methods; and also select surface equipment that separates the produced fluids (oil, natural gas, and water).

Eligibility For Petroleum Engineering

Educational Qualifications:

Career in Petroleum Engineering requires a bachelor's degree. Master's degrees are also common in most engineering fields.

Personal Skills:

Good understanding of the oil and gas industry exploration and production cycle, coupled to an appreciation of the effect that this has on business professionals. Requires a comprehensive knowledge of the principles, concepts and theories on system and software application as well as the, ability to recognize, analyze, and determine alternatives and take action to correct problem areas. Effective communication and writing skills are necessary Analyze and modify using computer programs features for commercial or end user. SQL and Microsoft Access experience will be helpful.

Job prospects For Petroleum Engineering

Organisations like Indian Oil, Oil India Limited, HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited), BP (British Petroleum) and ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) provide jobs for petroleum engineers. Job opportunities are also available at petroleum producing companies, well-logging companies, and consulting engineering companies, research and educational institution. The background and experience that petroleum engineers gained over their careers qualifies them to be geologists, geophysicists, or energy economists. It is possible to stay in the industry and become a petroleum landman, drilling engineer, well-log analyst or even a chemical engineer or reservoir engineer.