Petroleum engineers conduct studies for the exploration, development and extraction of oil and gas deposits; and plan, design, develop and supervise projects for the drilling, completion, testing and re-working of oil and gas wells. They are employed by petroleum producing companies, consulting companies, well logging or testing companies, in government, and research and educational institutions.

View All Titles

• Chief engineer, drilling and recovery
• Chief petroleum engineer
• Drilling and recovery chief engineer
• Drilling and recovery petroleum engineer
• Drilling engineer, oil and gas
• Engineer, natural gas
• Engineer, oil and gas drilling
• Engineer, petroleum
• Engineer, petroleum production
• Engineer, petroleum well completion
• Exploitation engineer –oil and gas
• Exploitation engineer –petroleum
• Logging engineer, oil wells
• Mud engineer
• Mud engineer –petroleum drilling
• Natural gas engineer
• Offshore drilling engineer
• Offshore drilling rig subsea equipment engineer
• Oil and gas drilling engineer
• Oil and gas production engineer
• Oil well logging engineer
• Petroleum engineer
• Petroleum engineer, completion
• Petroleum engineer, drilling and recovery
• Petroleum engineer, production
• Petroleum production engineer
• Petroleum reservoir engineer
• Petroleum well completion engineer
• Production engineer, oil and gas
• Reservoir engineer, petroleum
• Subsea engineer
• Subsea equipment engineer, offshore drilling rig
• Well logging engineer

Main Duties

Petroleum engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct feasibility assessment studies for developing new oil and gas fields
• Direct and monitor oil and gas drilling operations
• Develop drilling programs, select sites and specify drilling fluids, bit selection, drill stem testing procedures and equipment
• Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing and well surveys
• Design and select artificial lift machinery, and well and surface production equipment and systems and specify programs for corrosion control and oil or gas treatment
• Develop specifications for and monitor and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery
• Analyze reservoir rock and fluid data to design optimum recovery methods and to predict reservoir performance and reserves
• Monitor and forecast oil and gas reservoir performance and recommend oil recovery techniques which extend the economic life of wells
• Design, develop and co-ordinate the installation, maintenance and operation of subsea well-head and production equipment.
• Petroleum engineers may specialize in drilling, production, reservoir analysis or subsea operations.

Employment Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
• A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
• Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.