For Petroleum or Chemical Engineers

<p>This question is for those who know a lot about the Oil and Gas industry.</p>

<p>So, I obtained my bachelors in Chemical Engineering last may and have been working as a process engineer since may. However, I want to go back to school to pursue a masters in Petroleum or Chemical next fall.</p>

<p>Getting a Masters in petroleum would boost my chances of getting a job in the upstream section of an oil campany, but I'm skeptical about pursuing a degree with such narrow opportunities when compared to ChemE.</p>

<p>For now, my plan is to get a masters ChemE in a school with a good Petroleum Program ( UT, TAMU, LSU or OU ), and then sign up for on-campus interviews with top oil campanies for upstream positions. I also intend on the taking some core Petroleum classes as my Graduate elective.</p>

<p>What do you think about this plan?</p>

<p>Well if you know you want to do upstream then why are you concerned about the narrow opportunities. The other opportunities don’t really matter if you know you want to do upstream.</p>

<p>I would go for Chemical Engineering if you have the stomach for it. A lot of oil companies are looking for chemical and mechanical over petroleum engineering. One example is Exxonmobil. At PSU, they straight out interviewing mechanical and chemical over petroleum. I felt it was a slap for petroleum students. Bottom line, chemical/mechanical will get you into the oil industry if you wish.</p>

<p>I work in the energy business in TX. TAMU ALL THE WAY. And no, I’m not an Aggie, I didn’t even go to school in TX. However, most of the upper management people I deal with have the A&M ring - and they can be somewhat exclusive of other school alum.</p>

<p>Khoiey, he says he wants to do upstream. There is no way chemical engineers are getting preference over petroleum engineers for upstream jobs, all things being equal.</p>

<p>Sorry I didn’t read your post carefully. You already have a Chemical E degree and work in process. Did you talk to your manager about rotating to upstream? One person that interviewed me for an internship is a chemical engineering major and she is working upstream.</p>

<p>“Khoiey, he says he wants to do upstream. There is no way chemical engineers are getting preference over petroleum engineers for upstream jobs, all things being equal.”</p>

<p>I spoke with an ExxonMobil recruiter about this. She said ExxonMobil hires a ton of CHE, a normal amount of ME, and just a few Petroleum/civil/electrical.</p>

<p>Obviously much more chemE and ME are hired, because there are way more jobs downstream. There are very few PetEs compared to the large amount ChemEs working.</p>

<p>Boridi, ask the XOM recruiter about upstream jobs.</p>