All You Need To Know About A Career As A Petroleum Engineer

Discover the world of petroleum engineering, its career opportunities, and the compensation it offers in India.

Petroleum engineers are experts in the exploration and identification of natural reservoirs and petroleum deposits deep within the earth. To better comprehend their role, we’ve broken it down into four segments:

  1. Identifying and locating these reservoirs and deposits.
  2. Once these reservoirs are discovered, they collaborate with other geologists to study and analyze the geological formation and the nature of the rock containing the reservoir to determine the necessary drilling method for extraction.
  3. They are responsible for designing and implementing efficient and cost-effective technology to extract these petroleum resources, and they also oversee the drilling process.
  4. They ensure that the resources are safely extracted and properly stored.
All You Need To Know About A Career As A Petroleum Engineer

There are various types of Petroleum engineers, each with a unique role:

  • Petroleum geologists: These professionals focus on discovering natural reservoirs and examining the surface using various geological methods.
  • Drilling engineers: They decide on the drilling technique to be used for resource extraction, ensuring it is safe, efficient, and cost-effective. They often work in teams with other engineers, scientists, drilling teams, and contractors.
  • Completions engineers: They use techniques like tubing, hydraulic fracturing, and pressure control to complete well construction. Their goal is to construct the well so that the extracted oil or gas flows upward from underground.
  • Production engineers: They aim to extract as many resources as possible from these reservoirs using techniques like perforations, sand control, artificial lift, downhole flow control, and downhole monitoring equipment.
  • Reservoir engineers: They study and analyze the reservoirs to estimate the amount of oil or gas that can be recovered from these underground deposits.

Eligibility Criteria: (Educational Qualification)

To enter this field, candidates must meet the following educational requirements:

  • Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from a recognized institution. OR
  • Candidates with a background in Mechanical, Chemical, or Civil engineering can also find employment in this field.

Note: If you are currently in school, you need to complete your studies. In order to pursue a career in Petroleum Engineering, it is essential to have completed your senior secondary education with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as your main subjects.

Essential Skills for a Petroleum Engineer:

To excel in the field of Petroleum Engineering, the following skills are crucial:

  • Analytical abilities
  • Leadership qualities
  • Effective communication
  • Creativity
  • Proficiency in Mathematics
  • Problem-solving capabilities
Colleges Offering Petroleum Engineering:

Some of the top colleges offering petroleum engineering to students are:

  • Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad
  • Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology
  • Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune
  • Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gujarat
  • Academy Of Maritime Education and Training University
  • IIT Madras
  • The university of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
  • Aligarh Muslim University

Career Opportunities for a Petroleum Engineer:

There are various roles a Petroleum Engineer can take up, depending on their area of expertise:

  • Petroleum Geologists
  • Drilling Engineers
  • Completions Engineers
  • Production Engineers
  • Reservoir Engineers

Top Employers for Petroleum Engineers:

Some of the leading companies hiring Petroleum Engineers include:

  • Reliance Industries Ltd.
  • ONGC
  • Schlumberger
  • Shell
  • OIL
  • Gas Authority of India Ltd.
  • British Gas
  • Halliburton Services
  • Essar Oil
  • GSPC
  • Cairn Energy
  • IOCL
  • Essar Oil Ltd.
  • Baker Hughes
  • Reliance Energy
  • NIKO Resources
  • GEOENPRO
  • MECOM Ltd.
Salary offered to Petroleum Engineers:

According to the stats collected from some of the top survey conducting websites, the annual salary of a Petroleum engineer ranges from Rs. 2 Lakh to Rs. 37 lakh with the average salary being Rs. 7 lakhs annually.