Petroleum Engineer

What a Petroleum Engineer Does

Similar to mining and geological engineers are petroleum engineers, who locate and extract petroleum from the earth. They design systems and tools to remove oil and gas safely and efficiently, without harming workers or the environment. Petroleum engineers work with geologists, project managers and other experts to make sure all processes are carried out smoothly and to devise new, sophisticated ways to transport oil, gas, chemicals and water between wells, reservoirs and other containment devices. Another part of the job of a petroleum engineer is to conduct research and experiments to design new products, constantly improving the industry. Petroleum engineers work in offices but also make site visits to offshore drilling sites, and coastal regions, where they may spend weeks at a time, putting in lots of overtime. They need to be able to make critical decisions without succumbing to elements like wind or loud noises and should be comfortable visiting sometimes dangerous sites.

How to Become a Petroleum Engineer

You will typically need a bachelor's degree to become a petroleum engineer, which should take between four and five years. Look for a school that offers a petroleum engineering specialty, or at least a general engineering program that allows you to take courses in petroleum engineering, geology, production and project management, and related subject areas. A bachelor's degree will also require you to take courses in the liberal arts and sciences, as part of a common curriculum. Also make sure that your engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Depending on your employer and your exact position, you may need to become licensed. First, you will take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, and then after enough work experience, you can take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. After becoming a Professional Engineer (PE) you can become a contractor and also be certified to work directly with the public.

Career Outlook for Petroleum Engineers

Petroleum engineers accounted for 21,900 out of 1.6 million engineering jobs in the United States in 2008, and the most are located around coastal regions, particularly the Gulf Coast states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, though petroleum engineers can find jobs in many areas of the country and around the world. While the job outlook for all engineers is good, petroleum engineers in particular will experience an 18% employment increase through the year 2018. This growth rate is higher than the national average for all occupations and is due to the need for petroleum engineers to design and develop new systems to extract oil and gas from the earth. Petroleum engineers earned an average median annual salary of $108,020, with the middle 50% earning between $80,040 and $148,700. Petroleum engineers also have the highest starting salary for new bachelor's degree-holders, among all other engineering fields: $83,121. With continuing education and more experience, petroleum engineers can expect to increase their salaries and receive promotions.