Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Sulphur, taken individually, are mere elements on the periodic table. However, such is the beauty of nature that when these same elements combine, they form something completely different.
One can think of Petroleum as a time machine. After all, it was formed from the remains of marine organisms that existed millions of years ago, under the influence of high pressure and temperature.
True to their nature, mankind did not fail to utilise this natural resource to make life better, thus leading to the development of Petroleum Engineering as an offshoot field from Geology and Mining Engineering.
This is where a Petroleum Engineer comes in.
What does a Petroleum Engineer do?
The transportation that we use for travelling, the roads we walk on, and the fuel we use for heat generation and electricity are only some of the uses of Petroleum.
But, the questions that arise are-
Where does it come from?
How is it made available to us?
If the questions mentioned above make you curious, you are at the right place. Read on to know more about the profession that makes it possible.
The responsibilities of a Petroleum Engineer involves the following:
Development of techniques that can be used to enhance oil recovery.
Ensuring that the pieces of equipment in the oil fields are working properly.
Designing and upgrading technology to recover new hydrocarbons.
Devise plans for efficient extraction of oil and gas from the Earth.
So, how do you become one?
Petroleum Engineering Courses:
Candidates aspiring to become a Petroleum Engineer need to acquire the knowledge and skill set for the same. In order to do so, they can pursue the following courses at different levels:
Undergraduate Level:
| Courses |
|
| Duration | 4 Years |
| Eligibility |
|
| Admission Process | Merit/ Entrance Exam |
| Top Entrance Exams | JEE Main/ JEE Advanced/ COMEDK UGET |
Postgraduate Level:
| Courses |
|
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility |
|
| Admission Process | Merit/ Entrance Exam |
| Top Entrance Exam | GATE/ Karnataka PGCET |
Petroleum Engineering Subjects:
Now that you know about the steps to be undertaken to become a Petroleum Engineer, let's take a look at the subjects the courses entails.
The table below lists down the subjects, as mentioned in the curriculum at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
| Fluid Mechanics | Basics of Electrical and Electronic Engineering |
| Production Engineering | Reservoir Engineering |
| Natural Gas Engineering | Industrial Management |
| Chemical Thermodynamics | Applied Numerical Methods |
| Applied Geology | Environmental Studies |
Petroleum Engineering Colleges in India:
The table below lists down some of the leading Petroleum Engineering colleges in India.
| Institute | Location |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) | Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, Guwahati and Dhanbad |
| School of Engineering, Presidency University | Bengaluru |
| School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | Dehradun |
| NIMS University | Jaipur |
| Aditya Engineering College | Surampalem, Andhra Pradesh |
| Vignan's Foundation for Science Technology and Research | Guntur |
| Vel's Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Vels University | Chennai |
Scope of Petroleum Engineering:
India ranks third in the world in terms of oil consumption. Therefore, Petroleum Engineering jobs are plentiful.
Candidates get employed in oil and gas extraction, coal and petroleum manufacturing, enterprise management, and engineering services.
Apart from the mainstream sectors, the scope of Petroleum Engineering also extends to educational institutes which offer lucrative job offers.
Explore the industry by taking a look at the variety of job roles available:
Petroleum Engineering Jobs:
One can expect the following job roles:
Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum Geologist
Reservoir Engineer
Oil & Gas Plant Engineers
Drilling Engineer
Petroleum Engineer
Reservoir Engineer
Top Recruiters:
Petroleum Engineers can find employment in many big industries. Both the private and the public sectors readily recruit students from Petroleum Engineering colleges in India.
The list below mentions some of the leading recruiters:
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
Essar Oil
Esther Jeevitha
Rasson Energy India
Shell Oil and Gas as Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
ExxonMobil
The scope of Petroleum Engineering looks more attractive given the average annual salary an Engineer earns.
Salary:
Petroleum Engineers get paid as per their level of qualifications and experience in the field. The average Petroleum Engineer salary in India is around Rs. 8,02,225 per annum.
The pay scale varies depending on the experience level. A comparison of the two is given below:
| Experience Level (In Years) | Average Annual Salary (In INR) |
| 0-1 | Up to 7,08,000 |
| 1-4 | 7,08,000 - 8,00,000 |
| 5-9 | 8,00,000 - 9,76,000 |
Besides experience level, the Petroleum Engineer salary also depends upon the organisation one is working at and the specialization.
Takeaway:
Oil is here to stay. Petroleum products are major players in the country's industrial sector and the economy. Petroleum Engineering subjects will equip you with the knowledge to contribute to this booming sector.
Take this opportunity to pursue a career as a Petroleum Engineer. Make that foundation strong by pursuing a degree from the top Petroleum Engineering colleges in India.
