Industry Spotlight Canada

Petroleum Engineer

What does a Petroleum Engineer do?

Petroleum Engineers apply the principles of geology, physics, chemistry and engineering to explore and recover petroleum and natural gas from reservoirs and oil sands.

- They work with Geologists and Geophysicists to collect data.
- They analyze drilling data to determine if hydrocarbons can be recovered economically
- They assess costs and evaluate the economic viability of drilling locations
- They design and implement production, processing and transportation options
- They design and implement health, safety and environmental controls on oil and gas operations.

What kind of person makes a good Petroleum Engineer?

Petroleum Engineer might be the job for you if you:

- Are good at Math, Physics and Science
- Have good problem solving skills
- Have excellent communication skills
- Are energetic
- Work well with others and alone

How do I become a Petroleum Engineer?

Petroleum Engineers need to have a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) degree majoring in petroleum engineering or a related field.

Petroleum Engineers also need to be a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta.

Where does a Petroleum Engineer work?

Most Petroleum Engineers work for major oil companies, engineering consulting firms, government agencies or independent oil companies.

How much does a Petroleum Engineer make?

On average, Petroleum Engineers in Alberta make $59.22 an hour.
That’s about $120,000 a year.

Petroleum Engineer Case Studies

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