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Petroleum Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

woman in hardhat
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$130,850
Job Growth
Job Growth
8.30%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2031
Jobs in 2031
24,600

What Do They Do?

A petroleum engineer could...

Overview Listen to this section

Earth is our home and is the source of everything that we require to survive and thrive. Earth gives us food, shelter, and energy. One source of energy, found deep within the earth, is oil. Oil drives the world's economy and is an extremely important commodity. Petroleum engineers spend their careers searching for reservoirs of oil and developing methods to efficiently extract it from the earth without damaging the surrounding environment.
This video highlights a day in the life of a petroleum engineer working for ChevronTexaco.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Petroleum Engineer?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Writing: ?
  4. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  5. Systems Analysis: ?

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Petroleum Engineer might 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.
  • Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
  • Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
  • Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
  • Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
  • Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes.

Salary & Job Openings

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Petroleum Engineer

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On the Job

More Information

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