Oil Engineer Careers

Undergraduate oil careers are booming, with 18 percent growth expected by 2018. For those looking for a high-paying job with a bachelor's degree , oil engineers fit the bill. With average salaries around $120,000, and with the only requirements being a license and bachelor’s degree in engineering, this is an easy career to enter. In fact, the oil and gas industry is in dire need of skilled workers, so this job field is not at all competitive. Oil career opportunities are very abundant; so if you want one, you should have no problem finding an oil career that fits your skills and interests.

Oil engineers assist with the research, development and usage of equipment to drill into reservoirs and extract oil. Engineers may work on-site, but some work in industrial plants, laboratories and offices as well. They may work for equipment manufacturers. There are several main types of engineers in this industry: drilling, production, reservoir and sales.

Drilling engineers use special equipment to find reserves and they ensure that the drilling is done with the main factors in focus: cost and the environment. People in these careers estimate costs and risks and review performance.

Production engineers are in charge of daily operations. They develop strategies that will allow them to extract oil at the lowest cost; and they review rock samples and oversee production. This type of engineer also may work with other agencies.

Reservoir engineers predict future oil production. Through the use of computers and math, they can forecast the amount of future oil production and how much can be extracted. They may also predict water flood and analyze pressure.

Sales engineers focus on customer service. These engineers drive new business by contacting prospective customers and offering them new extraction equipment. They also create new accounts and troubleshoot issues.

Oil careers in the engineering field require courses in geostatistics, petrophysics and thermodynamics. Upon graduation, students must take the engineering portion of the licensing exam. Once they have four years of work experience, they can take the second portion of the exam and become licensed professional engineers.