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Overview
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.
Because only a small proportion of oil and gas in a reservoir will flow out under natural forces,
petroleum engineers develop and use various enhanced recovery methods. These include
injecting water, chemicals, gases, or steam into an oil reservoir to force out more of the oil, and
computer-controlled drilling or fracturing to connect a larger area of a reservoir to a single well.
Because even the best techniques in use today recover only a portion of the oil and gas in a
reservoir, petroleum engineers research and develop technology and methods to increase
recovery and lower the cost of drilling and production operations.
The Field
The word petroleum generally refers to crude oil or the refined products obtained from the
processing of crude oil (gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, etc.) We
find petroleum products in every area of our lives. They are easily
recognized in the gasoline we use to fuel our cars and the heating
oil we use to warm our homes. Less obvious are the uses of
petroleum-based components of plastics, medicines, food items,
and a host of other products.
Refining Basics
The most basic refining process is aimed at separating the
crude oil into its various components. Crude oil is heated and
put into a still -- a distillation column -- and different
hydrocarbon components boil off and can be recovered as
they condense at different temperatures. Additional processing
follows crude distillation, changing the molecular structure of
the input with chemical reactions, some through variations in
heat and pressure, some in the presence of a catalyst, a
substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the
reaction.
The characteristics of the gasoline produced depend on the type of crude oil that is used and
the setup of the refinery at which it is produced. Gasoline characteristics are also impacted by
other ingredients that may be blended into it, such as ethanol. The performance of the gasoline
must meet industry standards and environmental regulations that may depend on location.
Distribution
After crude oil is refined into gasoline and other petroleum
products, the products must be distributed to consumers. The
majority of gasoline is shipped first by pipeline to storage
terminals near consuming areas, and then loaded into trucks
for delivery to individual gas stations. Gasoline and other
products are sent through shared pipelines in "batches." Since
these batches are not physically separated in the pipeline,
some mixing or "commingling" of products occurs. This is why
the quality of the gasoline and other products must be tested as they enter and leave the
pipeline to make sure they meet appropriate specifications. Whenever the product fails to meet
local, state, or federal product specifications, it must be removed and trucked back to a refinery
for further processing.
After shipment through the pipeline, gasoline is typically held in bulk storage terminals that
often service many companies. At these terminals the gasoline is loaded into tanker trucks
destined for various retail gas stations. The tanks in these trucks, which can typically hold up to
10,000 gallons, usually have several compartments, enabling them to transport different
grades of gasoline or petroleum products. The truck tank is where the special additive
packages of gasoline retailers get blended into the gasoline to differentiate one brand from
another. In some areas, ethanol may be "splash blended" in the tanker to meet environmental
requirements. When the tanker truck reaches a gas station, the truck operator unloads each
grade of gasoline into the appropriate underground tanks at the station.
Preparation
A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs.
Admission Requirements
Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools
include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and
physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and
computer and information technology.
Co-ops
Internships and Coops provide students with a great opportunity to
gain real-world experience while still in school. Many universities
offer co-op and internship programs for students studying
Petroleum Engineering. This provides students with first hand
experience in the industry and the opportunity to contribute to a
real-world program or project.
Courses of Study
Bachelor's degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many
students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their studies. In a typical 4-year
college curriculum, the first 2 years are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences,
introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences.
Petroleum engineering students may also take courses such
as Reservoir Petrophysics, Petroleum Engineering Systems,
and Physical Geology during these years. In the last 2 years, a
petroleum engineering program might include courses in
Drilling and Production Systems, Geostatistics, Well
Performance, Reservoir Fluids, Petroleum Project Evaluation,
Engineering Ethics, and Well Completion and Stimulation.
Programs
The following is a current list of universities offering degree programs in Petroleum
Engineering.
Job Duties
Petroleum engineers focus on a wide range of projects and
activities. Some focus on production challenges, identifying,
testing, and implementing methods for improving oil and gas production. They might focus on
economics, helping a team determine the optimum number of wells appropriate for a given
operation. A petroleum engineer may focus on safety issues, or
maintenance support, identifying and planning upgrades of equipment
or systems. A petroleum engineer may choose to teach, or to serve as
a consultant to investors, banks, or other financial services firms.
The Workplace
The type of job a petroleum engineer has will often determine whether
how much they work inside or outside. Many petroleum engineers work
on job sites, but others work in an office setting. A consultant to the
financial industry, for example, may spend most of their time working in
an office setting. There are strong international travel opportunities for
petroleum engineers, as it is very much a global business. Many
companies have offices and sites in multiple countries and transfers are
common.
Earnings
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry,
and education. Even so, as a group, engineers earn some of
the highest average starting salaries among those holding
bachelor's degrees.
Salary Data
According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the median income for petroleum engineers is
$98,380. In terms of starting salaries, the average starting salary for petroleum engineers who
have earned a Bachelor's degree is $60,718. According to a recent salary survey by the
National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor's degree candidates in petroleum
engineering received starting salary offers averaging $62,236 a year. They are among the
highest paid engineers.
Employment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, petroleum engineers hold about 17,000 jobs
in the United States. This represents 1.1% of the 1.5 million jobs held by engineers in the U.S.
Petroleum engineers work mostly in oil and gas extraction, professional, scientific and
technical services, and petroleum refining. Employers include major oil companies and
hundreds of smaller, independent oil exploration, production, research institutes, and service
companies.
Most petroleum engineers work where oil and gas are found. Large numbers are employed in
Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alaska, and California, including offshore sites. Many American
petroleum engineers also work overseas in oil-producing countries.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations and associations provide a wide
range of resources for planning and navigating a career in
Petroleum Engineering. These groups can play a key role in
your development and keep you abreast of what is happening in
your industry. Associations promote the interests of their
members and provide a network of contacts that can help you
find jobs and move your career forward. They can offer a variety
of services including job referral services, continuing education
courses, insurance, travel benefits, periodicals, and meeting
and conference opportunities. A broader list of professional associations is also available at
www.careercornerstone.org.