Petroleum Engineer

Working Schedule
 
Petroleum Engineers work full-time, and perhaps significantly more depending on their specialty and role. Some may put in 50, 60, or more hours a week if there’s a big job or lots of travel required. Extraction sites and refineries are often in remote locations away from cities. Engineers working on offshore oil rigs may arrive via helicopter and sometimes have to live on-site.  
 

Typical Duties

• Review and assess potential sites using surveys and well tests
• Make recommendations; plan work involved in complex drilling and recovery ops
• Estimate costs associated with necessary work, and compare to potential revenue gained from extracted resources
• Assist with selecting or designing equipment needed for the job
• Ensure equipment is correctly set up, operated, and well-maintained
• Oversee elements of production to ensure efficiency and effectiveness

 
Additional Responsibilities

• Be “on-call” when problems arise; analyze problems and find effective solutions
• Collaborate with geoscientists to ensure the work can be done safely
• Assist in devising ways to maximize recovery 
• Keep processes on-schedule and ensure production goals are met in a cost-efficient manner
• Comply with state, federal, and international codes and standards  

Soft Skills
 

• Conceptualization skills 
• Ability to facilitate teamwork under stressful or adverse conditions
• Able to focus in noisy or hectic environments
• Compliance- and safety-oriented
• Critical thinking
• Environmentally conscious
• Highly realistic
• Initiative and “can do” attitude
• Investigative
• Organized and precise
• Strong leadership and communication skills

Technical Skills

• Math (algebra, geometry, calculus, stats) and physics
• Strong computer skills 
• As noted by O-Net, Petroleum Engineers may require knowledge of software, tools, and languages such as:
  • Scientific and analytics - SAS, MathWorks, PHDWin, and Well Flow Dynamics
  • C++ , Oracle Java, Python, R 
  • Database/query - Landmark Graphics TOW/cs, Microsoft Access, Oracle, SQL
  • Development environment - Eclipse IDE
  • Financial analysis - GEMS, ARIES, QUE$TOR

• Multinational oil companies (BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil)
• Mining support 
• Oil and gas extraction    
• Petroleum and coal manufacturing

A day in the life of a Petroleum Engineer can have lots of variety! You might find them working in nice climate-controlled offices, outside in scorching heat at a drilling site, navigating through the hub of a refinery, or facing inclement weather on a rig in a stormy sea. Duty may call an engineer to travel to foreign countries for trips or even to live abroad long-term. 
 
Big oil means big business, and engineers are expected to know their jobs inside and out. However, they’re not working alone, but rather with teams of other workers devoted to a common goal. Strong leadership and teamwork traits are required, and egos must be kept in check during times of frustration and adversity. Long hours and challenging conditions can drive up stress levels, but engineers are always expected to stay rational, objective, and clear-headed. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that one of the largest factors related to this field’s job outlook is the price of oil. When prices go up, companies may strive to expand and take on new engineers to assist. When prices fall, job outlook declines with it. The Fuse recently cited a study finding a 60% enrollment drop for Petroleum Engineering undergrad students over the past three years. However, this drop seems to be an overreaction. Currently business is doing well. As Dr. Lloyd Heinze of Texas Tech notes, “Any industry that uses raw materials is significantly influenced in price by governments.”

While many engineering professions create new things out of raw materials, Petroleum Engineers are in the business of obtaining raw materials first. Most were probably very practical growing up, realistic problem-solvers able to get along well with others. They’re hard workers, eager to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. In fact, chances are they went out of their way to seek opportunities to do so!
 
Creative yet highly practical and analytical, future Petroleum Engineers most likely loved gadgets and figuring out how they function. They could have been interested in finding activities that put both their minds and bodies to work. Further, they might’ve been keen to travel or experience work-related adventures in the field, offshore, or in other countries. As a lucrative sector to work in, it isn’t uncommon for workers to be attracted to these careers purely for the income potential.