<p>People have posted on and off about petroleum engineering on this forum, and I'm interested in the field. Does anyone know any resources with information about needed background, recruiting, lifestyle, benefits, pay, exit opportunities, etc. for entry-level engineers in the oil & gas/oil services industry? </p>
<p>I've poked around Schlumberger's web site but I'd like some other sources. (I'm a rising senior thinking about applying for jobs in the industry next year.) Thanks.</p>
<p>Are you talking about oil/gas services exclusively?</p>
<p>I have interned before at one of the big oil companies and was heavily involved in the upstream oil/gas sector.</p>
<p>Background wise, any engineering (ME/EE/ChemE) will do but Petroleum Engineering is no doubt preferred. Most of the recruiting takes place in the South (Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana) and in California. </p>
<p>Benefits wise, Big Oil takes very very good care of you. Even as a little intern I got paid 5000$ a month with a 401K plan and full relocation. </p>
<p>Starting salaries for ME/EE/ChemE are about 70-75K + signing while PetrosE start at 80-85k or more. Add 10-15k on to that to get Exxon salaries.</p>
<p>There aren't really many exit opportunities--most people stay in the oil/gas industry and just shift from company to company. Those that are really good can start their own consulting firms or join independents. Experienced engineers can also enter business based consulting, particularly the energy/natural resources sector.</p>
<p>hey nshah9617,
Do you know if there are many opportunities for environmental engineers in the oil / gas sector? I got one interview from a big oil company but was rejected...:(</p>
<p>To be honest, I haven't really heard of Environment Engineers getting jobs at the big oil companies, I do know that they hire civils or structurals.</p>
<p>However, since you got an interview, it is a possibility that they do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Starting salaries for ME/EE/ChemE are about 70-75K + signing while PetrosE start at 80-85k or more. Add 10-15k on to that to get Exxon salaries.
[/quote]
No doubt, but remember the best paying organizations are generally going to be the small independents which have much greater leeway in pay. I've heard some crazy numbers lately.</p>
<p>Mr Payne is right.</p>
<p>By "Big Oil companies", I mean Shell, Chevron, BP and Exxon--they will pay you a very pretty penny. However some of these independents (Cabbot, Devon, etc) are giving CRAZY numbers.</p>
<p>I have a few ME friends who are pushing 90k (w/ bonus).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I'm not too familiar with the oil & gas industry in general--is there a big difference between working for an integrated company like Exxon and working for an oil services company like Schlumberger? What kind of role do the little guys in the industry play?</p>
<p>Also, does upstream work mean living on an oil rig out in the middle of nowhere? In some other thread sakky compared this with being in jail.</p>
<p>nshah, 90k straight out of graduation?</p>
<p>may i know what are independents and what do they do?</p>
<p>YOU:</p>
<p>Independents are exactly what the name implies, independent oil companies (not Exxon, Shell, Chevron, BP or Total). Oil and Gas are profitable even at a small scale well. While the big oil companies would look for the fields with huge reserves, independents might look at any field, no matter the size. With oil prices today, even a field that produces 200 barrels a day, would produce some serious profits. </p>
<p>Yes, 90k (w/bonus) out of college but he did intern before. However, I have a friend who was a PetroE and started off in Alaska with close to 95-100k w/bonus.</p>
<p>Mrnipthy:</p>
<p>The service companies (or vendors) basically provide goods, technologies and services for the major oil companies. Just like when Boeing builds a huge airliner, they would sub-contract out little bits and pieces to different companies. A service company would have either field work or technological/design. They both thrive together since there are dependent on each other. However, I feel that the Big Oil companies have an advantage since they are in the end the customer and the vendors needs to satisfy their demands.</p>
<p>Upstream working can mean either field or desk work. Desk work is as the name implies, a desk job usually in Houston, just like any other job. Field work varies but it can be anywhere from Alaska, West Texas, California, Colorado/Wyoming and offshore.</p>
<p>You can usually choose whether you want to be in the field or desk job, or the company will offer a rotation plan. Most companies are on the 9/80 schedule meaning you work 9 hours one week and then get every other Friday. One interesting note about field is that you do get paid significantly more than desk job and have a lot of time off. Typical work schedules are either 7 on/7off, 2 weeks on/2weeks off or one month on/one month. As it implies, you work about 12 hours a day and then have either a week, 2 weeks or a month off.</p>
<p>My fiance works as a petroleum enigneer. All you really need is a Chem Eng degree, and they will train you on the job. Pay is a little better than average chem eng starting salaries, with great opportunities for advancement.</p>
<p>Also, dont be alarmed about all this talk about alternative fuels. I am positive that those oil companies will use their profits to move into alternative fuels as the demand for it increases in the market. After all, they have trillions of excess dollars, and are too clever to go out of business.</p>
<p>Just one little caveat, carnelian is right that a ChemE/EE/ME/Civil can work in the oil industry.</p>
<p>However you want to try to work as a Drilling, Production or Reservoir Engineering (the PetroE core subjects) and therefore get a PetroE pay grade.</p>
<p>Is there any region specifically in California where the majority of the oil and gas jobs are located? Also could you expand more on what an ME field job in oil and gas is typically like?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is there any region specifically in California where the majority of the oil and gas jobs are located? Also could you expand more on what an ME field job in oil and gas is typically like?
[/quote]
The vast majority of oil related jobs are in Bakersfield, CA. There are other oil producing assets in Santa Barbara/Carpinteria/Ventura & LA. I believe there is some stuff near Sacramento but that might be more gas production.</p>
<p>The major employers of upstream engineers would be Chevron, Aera, or Oxy.</p>
<p>If you are an ME you would most likely be working as a Facilities engineer or as a Production engineer.</p>
<p>As Mr. Payne said, look at Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley for oil/gas work in California.</p>
<p>An ME can pretty much do anything from Drilling & Completions, Production to Facilities Engineering. However, most MEs are sent to Facilities Engineering (unless they want drilling/production). Facilities Engineering involves the maintenance of equipment, such as pumps, hydraulic lines, engine and turbines. Other cases they can work with matsci and do stress analysis or corrosion work.</p>
<p>thanks for that info. good thread.</p>
<p>I know a girl who started for Exxon recently and is making 80-90K. Plus in just a few months she has traveled extensively...including international travel. Can't beat that. I am going to try to work with an oil company upon graduation. And reading that it is possible to branch off into consulting or something similar is great because that is ultimate goal.</p>
<p>carnelian (anyone else is welcome to comment), so you don't think anything will happen to the oil business? My brother is a PetE major at LSU and my mom thinks its a good idea if he minors in business or something in case the industry falls through or no job opportunities are available.</p>
<p>That's aconcern I have. I don't want to end up going back to school or being unable to support my self/family for the rest of my life because the oil industry has gone down the crapper and I can't find a job or my degree is worthless (although I don't feel like anything would happen in then next 5-10 years when I would be getting my feet wet.)</p>
<p>boozleC3,</p>
<p>The oil industry, if anything, is very optimistic right now about the future. All of the baby boomers and old-timers are waiting to retire and there just isn't enough people to replace them--recruiting is very high. I don't believe that Big Oil is going anywhere and even if petroleum peaks, Big Oil will just reinvent themselves as "energy companies" and be able to pick up the alternative sources. Sure the easy oil is gone but in the bustling subsea and heavy oil field, they will need petroleum engineers to drill and manage the reservoirs. Also a good point one of my professors said was that with the threat of climate change and C02 emissions, new engineers will have to be trained to make C02 traps--guess what, most of those will be chemical and petroleum engineers.</p>
<p>Also, Petroleum Engineering is really a mix of mechanical/chemical and business. I know quit a few petroleum engineers who went off into consulting or financial firms in energy trading, due to their experience.</p>