Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Introduction         Petroleum Engineering is the application of the basic science to the development, recovery and field processing of the oil and gas. The job of petroleum engineers starts after the discovery of a structure suitable for oil and gas accumulation. Exploration wells are first drilled and tested to evaluate the economic aspects of the discovery and to obtain necessary data for the planning and development of the field. Role of Petroleum Engineer          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. 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. Petroleum engineering deals with the problems of maximizing producing rate and ultimate recovery of oil and gas reservoirs, develop technology and methods to increase recovery and lower the cost of drilling and production operations. It is amazing, with the ever-increasing energy demand, that so few persons, even scientists, are aware of the efficiency in oil and gas production. Most people believe that oil and gas are produced from underground caverns or holes and that once a well quits producing all of the oil and gas has been removed from that particular hole. 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. The best techniques in use today recover only a portion of the oil and gas in a reservoir. Role of Production Engineer         The role of the petroleum production engineers comes next. These engineers, with the information provided by the reservoir engineers, are responsible for the design and implementation of well completions and subsurface and surface production facilities which are needed to produce the field and treat the produced fluids to produce oil and gas with the specifications needed for transportation and refining operations. Petroleum drilling engineers are responsible for the design, planning and supervision of the well drilling activities. SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Salary Survey            The Society of Petroleum Engineers conducts a global salary survey of members. For the most recent survey (2010), the average base salary of respondents worldwide was $122,458, an increase from the USD 116,834 in the 2008 survey. Additional compensation, such as bonuses, housing allowances, car allowances, and retirement contributions raised total average compensation for 2009 to $167,712. Not surprisingly, the average income increased with years of work experience. Professional Organizations            Professional organizations and associations provide a wide range of resources for planning and navigating a career in Petroleum Engineering. These groups can play a key role in your development and keep you abreast of what is happening in your industry. Associations promote the interests of their members and provide a network of contacts that can help you find jobs and move your career forward. Associations American Society of Petroleum Engineers Society of Petroleum Engineers Society of Geologist & Geophysicists American Petroleum Institute Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Society of Gas Engineers Advantages of a petroleum Engineer 1. Excellent source of organic molecules for building plastics, medicines, rubber, fiber, painting, etc. 2. Highly compact portable source of energy used for most forms of mechanical transportation. 3. Can withstand high heats without breakdown making it useful as lubricants like motor oil. 4. Residuals make excellent surface for asphalt roads and waterproof roofing materials  5. Natural gas is used to make fertilizers used in agriculture and household detergents. 6. Compared to most other fuel sources it is still one of the most economical -in other words the costs to produce it are relatively cheap compared to other energy sources. 7. Natural gas wells are the world's supply of helium gas. 8. Oil produced is used for many industrial applications. Course Modules Geology Geophysics Petro physicists Formation Evaluation Well Testing Production Engineering Drilling Engineering Reservoir Engineering Reservoir Simulation Experimental Measurement Methods Thermodynamics Fluid Mechanics Core Companies Petroleum Graduates are absorbed in various government and private organisation across globe. Govt companies ONGC HPCL BPCL Essar Oil Oil India GSI Gas Authority of India British Petroleum Kuwait Oil Company Saudi Aramco ADNOC Qatar Gas Qatar Petroleum Petronas Bahrain Oil Company Bharat Petroleum Private Companies Schlumberger Halliburton Shell Oil Reliance Petroleum Aban Drilling Shivani Group Weatherford Baker Hughes Cairn Energy Chevron Exxon Mobil Total Franc Lab Petroleum Experts Career Prospects           Petroleum Engineers are demanded engineers and are highly paid across globe. Petroleum engineering course offers wonderful job opportunities at global and domestic level. There is an acute shortage of professionals like geosciences experts, drilling Engineers, Production Engineers, Reservoir Engineers, Reservoir Simulation, Project Managers, etc. Besides Indian requirement, the world’s requirement is very high. The above are few companies in which petroleum graduates are absorbed. Opportunities in oil and Gas sector are ample in Middle East with very high salaries.