I want to get into Petroleum Engineering?

Question

What are some suggestions that i should start doing.

Answer 1

Presuming you are in High School: Study as much math as you can. You will take calculus, differential equations and other forms of math in College.

Study as much Chemistry and Physics as you can as you will have many semesters of this too.

You will have a basic exposure to other forms of engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical). You will take many semesters of Geology.

I graduated in 1984 in Petroleum Engineering at a time when there were not many jobs for grads. Out of 200 or so graduates in our class, only 1 person got a job with a major oil company, 3 others got jobs with service companies. Others were unemployed. Several of us got jobs as laborers offshore where we were exposed to the industry.

I do not know what the market is like now for Pet E's other than thinking you should be in high demand. Realize that if the price of oil collapses, you will be let go like the 100,000's of people that were let go in the 1980's. When I was living in Lafayette LA, the best job in town was driving the U-Hauls back into town as people were moving so fast there were not any to be had.


That being said, it is a great field. My only advice would be to strive to be the top of your class and make the very best grades you can. If you are good in Chemistry, go an extra year and double major as a Pet E and Chem E. If you like the geology, go an extra year and double major as a petroleum geologist and a petroleum engineer.

Be sure to take the core classes to get your FE and try to become a PE after your internship.