Thinking about becoming a petroleum engineer? There are great opportunities in the career field, especially right here in the Permian Basin! In this blog we explore what petroleum engineering is, how you can become a petroleum engineer, what a day in the life of a petroleum engineer is like, and how much you can expect to make in the industry.
What is Petroleum Engineering?
Petroleum engineering is the branch of engineering that designs and develops methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the Earth’s surface. The major areas in petroleum engineering are drilling, formation evaluation, production and completion, and reservoir engineering. Petroleum engineering focuses on maximizing economic recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs. This branch of engineering overlaps with many of the engineering disciplines, including mechanical, chemical, and civil engineering.
What do Petroleum Engineers do?
Using the knowledge of physics, mathematics, and geology, and through teamwork and innovator’s mindset, petroleum engineers focus on provision of a static description of the hydrocarbon reservoir rock, 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 high pressure. 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.
Why Study Petroleum Engineering?
Do you have the desire to be successful and earn one of the highest pay and benefits among all engineering fields at the same time? You might want to become a petroleum engineer! The median annual wage for petroleum engineers was $130,850 in May 2021. Petroleum engineering has been constantly ranked as one of the highest paid jobs in the United States even during the periods of declined oil price.
Do you want to make a real difference in the World? Become a petroleum engineer! The world will always need energy. Petroleum engineers locate, recover, and maintain the world’s oil and gas supplies. They make the exploration, drilling, and production processes safer and efficient for people, communities, wildlife, and the environment and help keep the fuel prices affordable. They ensure compliance with best practices, industry standards, and environmental and safety regulations, and contribute to energy independence. Petroleum is needed not only for fuel and heat, but also oil serves as a raw material to produce plastics, rubber, nylon, spandex, detergents, pharmaceutical drugs, clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, paints, bubble gum, and many more.
Do you love the environment? Become a petroleum engineer! It is a common misconception that caring for environment and petroleum engineering do not associate with each other. As an engineer you can inspire change by being that change. Petroleum engineers provide the world with energy, while safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Do you want to travel? Are you creative and imaginative? Are you a good communicator? Do you like working with new technologies? Do you enjoy working with people? Do you want flexibility in your work environment? You might want to become a petroleum engineer!
Why Study Petroleum Engineering at UTPB?
UT Permian Basin College of Engineering is ranked the #1 best value engineering schools in Texas, has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships, and continually beats national and state averages pass rates for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.
The College of Engineering building officially opened its doors in fall 2019. The three-story building covers 105,801 square feet and cost $55 million. Inside you'll find state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms that lend to hands-on learning, a lecture hall, study spaces, and so much more.
Here are some other highlights of the engineering program at UT Permian Basin:
- ABET accredited program.
- The median salary of petroleum engineering students who receive their bachelor's degree at UTPB is higher than the national median for all petroleum engineering bachelor's degree recipients. The Petroleum Engineering graduates from UTPB were ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the highest paid petroleum engineering graduates.
- The location of UTPB Petroleum Engineering Department makes it the largest open sky oil laboratory (Permian Basin)!
- UTPB College of Engineering has ranked the #1 best value engineering schools in Texas in 2021.
- Highly qualified faculty members.
- Low student to faculty ratio.
- Opportunity for undergraduate research in state-of-the-art laboratories.
- Opportunity for large number of scholarships and internships.
- Opportunity for work while studying.
- Opportunity for attending national and international conferences.
- Opportunity to get involved with major professional societies in petroleum engineering such as SPE, AADE, ARMA, and TSPE.