Petroleum Engineers - 17-2171.00

Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

Sample of reported job titles: Completion Engineer, Completions Engineer, Drilling Engineer, Drilling Manager, Engineer, Operations Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, Petroleum Production Engineer, Production Engineer, Reservoir Engineer

Tasks

• Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
• Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
• Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
• Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
• Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
• Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
• Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
• Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
• Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
• Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment.
• Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
• Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
• Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel.
• Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes.
• Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models.
• Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations.
• Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
• Take samples to assess the amount and quality of oil, the depth at which resources lie, and the equipment needed to properly extract them.
• Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted.
• Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed.
• Conduct engineering research experiments to improve or modify mining and oil machinery and operations.

Technology Skills

• Analytical or scientific software - IHS PETRA; Schlumberger Petrel; TRC Consultants PHDWin; Well Flow Dynamics Wellflow (see all 10 examples)
• Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD
• Data base user interface and query software - Landmark Graphics TOW/cs; Microsoft Access
• Electronic mail software - IBM Notes ; Microsoft Outlook
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - SAP
• Financial analysis software - DFA Capital Management GEMS; GeoGraphix ARIES Portfolio; IHS QUE$TOR
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Microsoft Visio
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Project management software - Microsoft Project ; Oracle Primavera Systems
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Desktop computers
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA
• Scanners - Computer scanners

Knowledge

• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Abilities

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.

Interests

• Interest code: IRC
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Electronic Mail - 100% responded “Every day.”
• Telephone - 82% responded “Every day.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 70% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 66% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 73% responded “Every day.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 51% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Contact With Others - 62% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 54% responded “Very important results.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 57% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 72% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 60% responded “Very important.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 43% responded “Every day.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 43% responded “Very important.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 38% responded “Extremely important.”
• Time Pressure - 48% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 33% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Letters and Memos - 45% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 64% responded “Very important.”
• Consequence of Error - 34% responded “Extremely serious.”
• Level of Competition - 45% responded “Highly competitive.”
• Frequency of Conflict Situations - 34% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 29% responded “Moderate responsibility.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
91%	Bachelor's degree
7%	Master's degree
3%	Post-baccalaureate certificate

Work Styles

• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

• Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $63.60 hourly, $132,280 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 34,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Much faster than average (15% or higher)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 2,800