Petroleum Engineers

1. What is petroleum engineering?

2. What are the main specializations in petroleum engineering?

3. Where do petroleum engineers work?

4. What do petroleum engineers deal with? What are their job duties and responsibilities?

5. What education / knowledge do petroleum engineers require?

6. What skills do they need?

7. What personal qualities are most wanted in petroleum engineering?

8. What are work conditions and work environment of petroleum engineers?

9. What are advantages and disadvantages of work in petroleum engineering?

10. What is your dream job?

Petroleum Engineers

1. What is petroleum engineering?

Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering. It studies the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Petroleum engineering focuses on estimation of the recoverable volume of hydrocarbon resource using a detailed understanding of the physical behavior of oil, water and gas within porous rock at very high pressure.

The combined efforts of geologists and petroleum engineers throughout the life of a hydrocarbon accumulation determine the way in which a reservoir is developed and depleted, and usually they have the highest impact on field economics.

2. What are the main specializations in petroleum engineering?

Petroleum engineers divide themselves into several types:

Petroleum geologists find hydrocarbons by analyzing subsurface structures with geological and geophysical methods;

Reservoir engineers work to optimize production of oil and gas via proper well placement, production rates, and enhanced oil recovery techniques.

Drilling engineers manage the technical aspects of drilling exploratory, production and injection wells.

Production engineers, including subsurface engineers, manage the interface between the reservoir and the well, including perforations, sand control, downhole flow control, and downhole monitoring equipment; evaluate artificial lift methods; and also select surface equipment that separates the produced fluids (oil, natural gas, and water).

3. Where do petroleum engineers work?

A degree in petroleum engineering can lead to many career paths. While most work directly for oil and gas production companies, the options for work are broad and cross over many industries.

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: onshore and offshore, in various climatic conditions and cultural environments. Some find jobs in their home countries, some work overseas. Petroleum industry is getting more and more global.

4. What do petroleum engineers deal with? What are their job duties and responsibilities?

A petroleum engineer is involved in nearly all stages of oil and gas field evaluation, development and production. The goal of a petroleum engineer is to maximise hydrocarbon recovery at a minimum cost while maintaining a strong emphasis on reducing all associated environmental problems.

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

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.

Petroleum engineers

• compile detailed development plans of reservoir performance using mathematical models to ensure maximum economic recovery;

• select optimal tubing size and the variety of suitable equipment within the well for different functions;

• design the completion - the part of the well that communicates with the reservoir rock and fluids;

• design systems that help the well to flow, for example using submersible pumps;

• manage problems of fluid behaviour and production chemistry;

• evaluate and recommend flow rate enhancement by using, for example, hydraulic fracturing (to force fluid into a well and fracture the rock) and acid treatment (to erode the rock and improve flow path);

• manage and control wells with branches at the bottom (horizontal and multilateral wells);

• use well and reservoir remote sensing technology and surveillance data to manage the value of the reservoir and decide on appropriate engineering interventions;

• understand and manage how a set of wells interact;

• manage contractor relationships in relation to health, safety and environmental performance;

• take responsibility for the maintenance of equipment etc.