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Petroleum Engineers

Also called: Reservoir Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Petroleum Production Engineer

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
  • Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
  • Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • computers and electronics
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics
Business
  • management
  • accounting and economics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Abilities

Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted
  • do two or more things at the same time
Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Computer Modelling Group CMG STARS
  • IHS PETRA
Financial analysis software
  • DFA Capital Management GEMS
  • GeoGraphix ARIES Portfolio
Electronic mail software
  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • Microsoft Outlook

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree
usually needed

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Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$122,280
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about petroleum engineers.