- For petroleum refinery engineering, see Process engineering.
Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Exploration and Production are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Exploration, by earth scientists, and petroleum engineering are the oil and gas industry's two main subsurface disciplines, which focus on maximizing economic recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs. Petroleum geology and geophysics focus on provision of a static description of the hydrocarbon reservoir rock, while petroleum engineering focuses on estimation of the recoverable volume of this 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. Petroleum engineering requires a good knowledge of many other related disciplines, such as geophysics, petroleum geology, formation evaluation (well logging), drilling, economics, reservoir simulation, reservoir engineering, well engineering, artificial lift systems, completions and petroleum production engineering.
Recruitment to the industry has historically been from the disciplines of physics, chemical engineering and mining engineering. Subsequent development training has usually been done within oil companies.
Overview
The profession got its start in 1914 within the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). The first Petroleum Engineering degree was conferred in 1915 by the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, the profession has evolved to solve increasingly difficult situations. Improvements in computer modeling, materials and the application of statistics, probability analysis, and new technologies like horizontal drilling and enhanced oil recovery, have drastically improved the toolbox of the petroleum engineer in recent decades. Automation, sensors, and robots are being used to propel the industry to more efficiency and safety heights.
Deep-water, arctic and desert conditions are usually contended with. High Temperature and High Pressure (HTHP) environments have become increasingly commonplace in operations and require the petroleum engineer to be savvy in topics as wide-ranging as thermo-hydraulics, geomechanics, and intelligent systems.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is the largest professional society for petroleum engineers and publishes much technical information and other resources to support the oil and gas industry. It provides free online education (webinars), mentoring, and access to SPE Connect, an exclusive platform for members to discuss technical issues, best practices, and other topics. SPE members also are able to access the SPE Competency Management Tool to find knowledge and skill strengths and opportunities for growth. SPE publishes peer-reviewed journals, books, and magazines. SPE members receive a complimentary subscription to the Journal of Petroleum Technology and discounts on SPE's book, journals, and magazines. SPE members also receive discounts on registration fees for SPE organized events and training courses. SPE provides scholarships and fellowships to students entering university, undergraduate, and graduate students.
According to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statics, petroleum engineers are required to have a bachelor's degree in engineering, generally a degree focused on petroleum engineering is preferred, but degrees in mechanical, chemical, and civil engineering are satisfactory as well. Petroleum engineering education is available at many universities in the United States and throughout the world - primarily in oil producing regions. U.S. News & World Report maintains a list of the Best Underdegraduate Petroleum Engineering Programs. SPE and some private companies offer training courses. Some oil companies have considerable in-house petroleum engineering training classes.
Petroleum Engineering Salaries
Petroleum engineering has historically been one of the highest paid engineering disciplines, although there is a tendency for mass layoffs when oil prices decline and waves of hiring as prices rise. SPE annually conducts a Salary survey. In 2017, SPE reported the average SPE professional member reported earning USD 194,649 (including salary and bonus), the average base pay was USD 151,122. The average base pay reported in 2016 was 143,006. Base pay and other compensation was on average was highest in the United States where the base pay was USD 174,283. Drilling and production engineers tended to make the best base pay, USD 160,026 for drilling engineers and USD 158,964 for Production engineers. Base pay on average ranged from USD 96,382-174,283. There still are significant gender pay gaps still, but in 2016 more than half of the female respondents reported an increase in base pay received since 2016.
In 2016, the United Stated Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median pay for petroleum engineers was USD 18,230; roughly $61.65 per hour. The same summary also projects that there will be 15% job growth in this field from 2016-2026. Also in 2016, U.S. News & World Report named Petroleum Engineering the top college major in terms of highest median annual wages of college-educated workeds (age 25-59). The 2010 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey showed petroleum engineers as the highest paid 2010 graduates at an average $125,220 annual salary.For individuals with experience, salaries can go from $170,000 to $260,000 annually. They make an average of $112,000 a year and about $53.75 per hour. In a June 4, 2007 article, Forbes.com reported that petroleum engineering was the 24th best paying job in the United States.
Types
Petroleum engineers divide themselves into several types:
- Reservoir engineers work to optimize production of oil and gas via proper placement, production rates, and enhanced oil recovery techniques.
- Drilling engineers manage the technical aspects of drilling exploratory, production and injection wells.
- Completion engineers (also known as subsurface engineers) work to design and oversee the implementation of techniques aimed at ensuring wells are drilled stably and with the maximum opportunity for oil and gas production.
- Production 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)..
See also
- Reservoir evaluation
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- SPE Certified Petroleum Professional
- Seismic to simulation
References
External links
- The Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary: An Online Glossary of Oilfield Terms
- Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers
- Petroleum Engineering Schools
- What is Forensic Petroleum Engineering?
- Petroleum Engineering - Best Petroleum Engineering Schools & Colleges, Jobs in USA
- About Petroleum Engineering
- Career Opportunities in Petroleum Engineering
