Petroleum Engineering
They design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas
Job Responsibilities
Petroleum engineers generally work in offices or in research laboratories. However, they also must spend time at drilling sites, often for long periods of time. This means they must travel, sometimes with little notice.
Employment of petroleum engineers is projected to grow 26 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Demand for petroleum engineers in support activities for mining should also be strong, as oil and gas companies find it convenient and cost-effective to seek their services on an as-needed basis.
How do you become a Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in petroleum engineering. However, a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering may also suffice employers also value work experience, so cooperative education programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured job experience, are valuable as well.