Petroleum Engineers
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
What you’d do
- Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
- Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
- Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
- Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
Skills that matter
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
How to get there
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Also called
- Drilling Engineer
- Engineer
- Petroleum Engineer
- Reservoir Engineer
- Completion Engineer
- Operations Engineer
Related careers
See all careersMining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Chemical Engineers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Geothermal Production Managers
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant…
Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree
Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Industrial Engineers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality…
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree
Mechanical Engineers
- Bright Outlook
- Rapid Growth
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment.
Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree