Petroleum engineer

Description

Petroleum engineers evaluate gas and oil fields. They design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from underneath the earth’s surface. They maximise the recovery of hydrocarbon at a minimum cost, pursuing minimal impact on the environment.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to petroleum engineer:

petroleum engineers
petroleum geologist
petroleum production technician
reservoir engineer
oil and gas engineer
gas engineer

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as petroleum engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Petroleum engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Petroleum engineer career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to petroleum engineer.

liquid fuel engineer
mineral processing engineer
oil and gas production manager
geochemist
mine health and safety engineer

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of petroleum engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of petroleum engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of petroleum engineer.

Well testing operations: Testing procedures, such as volumetric flow testing and pressure testing, which describe the ability of the well to produce oil.
Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
Geology: Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.
Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of petroleum engineer.

Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Manage well interaction: Understand and manage the process of different wells interacting with one another.
Interpret extraction data: Process and interpret extraction data and send feedback to the development teams; apply learnings to concrete operational activities.
Report well results: Document and share well results in a transparent way; communicate results to business partners, auditors, collaborating teams and internal management.
Liaise with well test engineers: Establish relationships with well testing engineers in order to optimise procedures; make real-time decisions on data acquisition issues.
Manage fluid production in gas: Manage issues and anticipate potential problems arising from fluids involved in the production of oil and gas.
Prepare extraction proposals: Prepare detailed extraction proposals by putting together subsurface information about extraction site and agreement of partners involved.
Provide petroleum engineering support: Provide assistance during exploration sessions; plan well operations and gather relevant data; oversight and post-well analyses.
Manage production fluid in oil production: Manage issues and anticipate potential problems arising from fluids involved in the production of oil.
Prepare well formation evaluation programmes: Prepare well formation evaluation programmes; communicate and collaborate with exploration teams.
Liaise with mine professionals: Establish relationships with commercial managers, geoscientists, and production/reservoir engineers; work together to analyse well-logging results and to assess production potential.
Design well flow systems: Design/develop systems that help the well to flow; operate submersible pumps.
Use reservoir surveillance: Understand and operate well and reservoir surveillance system and remote sensing technology; monitor the reservoir level and decide on engineering interventions if necessary.
Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
Prepare technical reports: Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.
Compile reservoir performance plans: Make up detailed development plans of the performance of the reservoir. Apply mathematical models for maximum economic recovery.
Monitor extraction logging operations: Monitor logging operations and oversee formation testing and sampling operations; analyse and interpret results.
Address problems critically: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.
Select well equipment: Select and purchase the appropriate equipment for different functions within the well.
Determine flow rate enhancement: Recommend and evaluate flow rate enhancement; understand and safely carry out acid treatment or hydraulic fracturing.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of petroleum engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of petroleum engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Supervise well operations: Supervise well-site operations and manage the staff, including training and supervision of personnel. Manage a crew that works together as a team; make sure that deadlines are met with in order to maximise customer satisfaction.
Design the completion for a well in petroleum production: Design the completion – the section of the well that communicates with the reservoir fluids and rock.

ISCO group and title

2146 – Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Petroleum engineer – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022