Petroleum engineering is a fast developing stream in the field of engineering. There are not many colleges in India which are offering this course. There are only specialized institutes which are offering this stream. However a career in petroleum engineering is considered as highly rewarding and is of high growth potential.

The major role of petroleum engineers

The major role of a petroleum engineer is to identify the location which are rich in oil and natural gas anddetermine whether it is feasible to extract oil from the location. They also have the role of designing and developing the modern machines and equipments which forms an integral part of extraction and refinement of oil. An advantage enjoyed by petroleum engineers is that their opportunities are spread across the world. Such engineers are recruited by international oil companies with excellent pay packages.

Petroleum engineers can find jobs in two different areas in the petroleum sector, namely upstream sector and downstream sector.

Upstream sector

This sector consists of activities such as exploration, extraction of oil and natural gas from various geographies such as land and water. A petroleum engineer will have to work in the areas of exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas. They will have to work both  land and water as per the availability of petroleum and natural gas. Modern machines and equipment can be used to get the work done.

Downstream sector

The sector includes activities such as refining of oil and converting it into various products such as Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Aviation fuel and other by products which are useful for human beings. The petroleum engineer will be in charge of various activities associated with the refinement of crude oil to derive useful products. They are also entrusted with the responsibility of quality assurance which is an important role. Another major opportunity for the petroleum engineers is with the marketing and distribution of the final products after refinement and quality assurance. In the marketing and distribution areas, petroleum engineers with management qualifications are preferred.

Basic qualification for pursing petroleum engineering

To pursue a B Tech course in Petroleum engineering, the candidate should have passed 12th grade with subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The minimum marks required by the candidates’ changes with universities and in most of the universities it is 50 per cent for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The students will have to write entrance exams conducted by various universities or states to secure admission for the course. The selection to the course will be made based on the performance of the candidate in the entrance examination.

Post graduate courses after UG petroleum degree

In the case of the post graduate degree in petroleum engineering, the candidate should have completed B. Tech in the relevant field. The candidates with engineering degree in petroleum engineering will be most preferred. In the case of candidates with M Sc in Chemistry, they are also eligible to go for post graduation in chemical engineering. There are areas of research too in the areas of exploration, extraction and refinement. There are also areas such as production and mechanical in the petroleum sector where research can be conducted.

Prepare in advance to be start off

To pursue a successful career in petroleum engineering, the candidates should prepare in advance for the entrance examination. There are many entrances examinations conducted by different universities and colleges. The students should prepare accordingly based on the syllabus followed by the university or the college and make sure that he or she cracks the examination without difficulty. Since the course in petroleum engineering is offered by colleges and universities which are located away from towns and cities, the candidate should be mentally prepared to meet the challenges that come up during the course. A career in petroleum engineering is highly rewarding and this is one reason many of the students pursue this course.

Make a self assessment before selecting the course

Before joining the course the candidate should decide whether this field will suit them. You have to make a self assessment on whether this course will help in meeting the long term goal you have set in your life, the career goal and the short term objectives that you have in mind. You have to consider various factors such as staying away from home even in foreign countries, the tough working environments etc before making a decision on the matter.

Job prospects

The chances of landing a job are high in the case of petroleum engineering. Attractive job openings are found both in India and foreign countries. Since the demand for petroleum products will increase, the job opportunities will also increase with time.

Compensation Packages

The salary packages offered to graduates in the field of petroleum is attractive. It varies with the experience and expertise in the field and the skill and qualification.  For a fresher the salary will start from Rs 25000 to Rs 30000 per month. The salary increases as the candidate gains experience.  In the case of foreign countries, the graduates can earn up to USD 100,000 per year.

Companies hiring petroleum engineers

• Indian Oil Corporation
• Reliance Petroleum Limited
• Oil Gas India
• Kochi Refineries Limited
• Shiv-Vani Universal
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
• Tata Petrodyne
• ONGC
• IBP Co. Limited
• Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited
• Lubricants India
• Bharat Petroleum

Colleges and Universities offering Petroleum engineering courses

• Bharathisadan Institute of Engineering and Technology
• Indian School of Mines
• Institute of Petroleum Studies and Chemical Engineering
• University of Petroleum Studies
• Dr. Harising Gour University
• BR Ambedkar Technological University
• Maharashtra Institute of Technology
• Nowrosjee Wadia College
• Institute of Cheminformatics Studies

Graduate courses

• B.E. in Petroleum Engineering
• B.Tech in Petrochemical Engineering
• B.Tech in Applied Petroleum Engineering
• B.Tech in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals Engineering
• B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering
• B.Tech in Petroleum Reservoir and Production Engineering
• B.Tech in Petroleum Refining Engineering
• M.Tech in Petroleum Engineering
• M.Tech in Petroleum Refinery Engineering
• M.E. in Petroleum Engineering
• M.Tech in Petroleum Exploration
• M.Tech in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Engineering