2145 Petroleum engineers

2145 Petroleum engineers

Petroleum engineers conduct studies for the exploration, development and extraction of oil and gas deposits; and plan, design, develop and supervise projects for the drilling, completion, testing and re-working of oil and gas wells. They are employed by petroleum producing companies, consulting companies, well logging or testing companies, government, and research and educational institutions.

Example Titles

• chief engineer, drilling and recovery
• chief petroleum engineer
• drilling and recovery chief engineer
• drilling and recovery petroleum engineer
• drilling engineer, oil and gas
• engineer, natural gas
• engineer, oil and gas drilling
• engineer, petroleum
• engineer, petroleum production
• engineer, petroleum well completion
• exploitation engineer – oil and gas
• exploitation engineer – petroleum
• logging engineer, oil wells
• mud engineer
• mud engineer – petroleum drilling
• natural gas engineer
• offshore drilling engineer
• offshore drilling rig subsea equipment engineer
• oil and gas drilling engineer
• oil and gas production engineer
• oil well logging engineer
• petroleum engineer
• petroleum engineer, completion
• petroleum engineer, drilling and recovery
• petroleum engineer, production
• petroleum production engineer
• petroleum reservoir engineer
• petroleum well completion engineer
• production engineer, oil and gas
• reservoir engineer, petroleum
• subsea engineer
• subsea equipment engineer, offshore drilling rig
• well logging engineer

Main duties

Petroleum engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct feasibility assessment studies for developing new oil and gas fields

• Direct and monitor oil and gas drilling operations

• Develop drilling programs, select sites and specify drilling fluids, bit selection, drill stem testing procedures and equipment

• Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing and well surveys

• Design and select artificial lift machinery, and well and surface production equipment and systems, and specify programs for corrosion control and oil or gas treatment

• Develop specifications for and monitor and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery

• Analyze reservoir rock and fluid data to design optimum recovery methods and to predict reservoir performance and reserves

• Monitor and forecast oil and gas reservoir performance and recommend oil recovery techniques which extend the economic life of wells

• Design, develop and co-ordinate the installation, maintenance and operation of subsea well-head and production equipment.

Petroleum engineers may specialize in drilling, production, reservoir analysis or subsea operations.

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.

• A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).

• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Additional information

• There is mobility between petroleum engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
• Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
• Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.