<p>I want to do petroleum engineering. right now i am thinking reservoir, but not 100% sure. I also really like water and think its neat. I have two programs to choose from, your advice would be nice. I'm currently in my first year and have to apply to different programs right way.</p>
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<li>do a 4 year degree in petroleum engineering. no minors. just strictly petroleum engineering. And then i am a pet engg for my career etc..</li>
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<p>but what if i do petroleum and maybe not like it. I am pretty sure i will, but i always like options in life.. so.. </p>
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<li>I think ocean engineering is also interesting. deals with boats, ships, subs, floating airports, offshore oil rigs.. anything water related. this program from what i can tell is part structural and mechanical as it pertains to water related stuff.<br></li>
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<p>4 year program (i'm in 1st year) with 1.5 years ocean engg and then a focus in oil and gas for last 1.5 years. I would minor in geology. and to be at level of the pure petroleum engg degree as stated in point 1. I would need to take my masters. but i would have two options ocean and oil/gas engg.</p>
<p>so question: is it a bad idea to go the ocean engg route if i want to do petroleum? would taking all the geology classes help me get a got in reservoir if i did not go to grad school right away?</p>
<p>all and any help is needed. I love everything and want to do everything and i am having a hard time deciding!</p>
<p>Those two majors aren’t too similar, so you should probably pick one and give it your all. Though you may want to do everything, it’s just not practical. If you want to be a petroleum engineer, pick that. I’m sure there’s plenty of fluid mechanics in reservoir engineering.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I’m finishing up my MS in Civil/Structural engineering and am going into a job in sub-sea engineering. The pay is quite good at 70k, but it’s still less than the average PetE BS student makes straight out of undergrad.</p>
<p>yeah i’m just not sure. petroleum engineering degree doesn’t leave much variance beyond doing petroleum engineering itself. that is why i am looking at the combined degree. but i dont want to be less hire-able going that route cause i will have a degree or should i say title in ocean engineering with an oil and gas stream rather than petroleum engineering itself. get what i am saying? For some reason i really wanna go the ocean engineering route, but I just dont wanna make a stupid career move cause of the combined degree. hmmm…</p>
<p>You don’t need a petroleum engineering degree to do upstream. Most service companies like Schlumberger, Baker Hughes etc are hiring smart engineering. Heck, I do know an agriculture engineering graduate got hired. As long as you have the brain and good GPA and try hard to get that oil internship experience (try to do manual labor in oil patches etc), then that should get you in the door.</p>
<p>As for reservoir petroleum, it’s very tough to get that position with a bachelor degree in petroleum unless you have prior experience and extremely smart. Most likely, you will have to do a master in petroleum to get into reservoir.</p>
<p>oh ok thats good to know. yeah the schools help set you up for intern and coop work experience so I dont think i’ll have a problem with finding oil related work. especially if i stay in Alberta. Now if i choose the school in Newfoundland that might be a different story. </p>
<p>why would you say that reservoir is harder to get into? cause the older people get the less they want to be directly on the rigs?</p>
<p>“why would you say that reservoir is harder to get into? cause the older people get the less they want to be directly on the rigs?” </p>
<p>Because you’re going to be competing against candidates with masters/Phds. Unlike drilling and production, reservoir is mainly based on theory; for which, of course, a person with a graduate degree would have an edge on you. Of course this matter’s less if you transfer to a top school (UT, TAMU, Okalahoma, etc.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be so confident about that. Pretty much every school has a career center that will attempt to help you get a job. Certainly doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a job. Still have to keep your marks up and interview well. </p>
<p>If you decide you want to do petroleum ideally you would try and get work as an engineering summer student for a producer in the field. However a lot of those positions have already been filled or are in the process of being filled for summer 2012. Some companies do accept applications until December/January though (I know Husky does).</p>
<p>If you don’t get a summer student position with a producer (real tough to get as a freshman) then the next best thing is getting a labor position somewhere in the industry, whether it’s with a producer or a service company. Any experience that is going to give you some quality exposure to the industry is going to help you out big time when it comes to applying for internships in second year. Most kids aren’t on the ball in first year and fail to get much worthwhile experience freshman summer. Use this to your advantage. </p>
<p>Also, nothing will help you decide what you want to study like real world experience and exposure to the industries you are interested in. The next best thing would be talking to current professionals in the industry. So join clubs, go to career fairs, talk to profs etc. You shouldn’t give much weight to random people on an internet forum who may or may not know what they are talking about.</p>
<p>yeah i guess the schools can only do so much. and its true that its hard to tell if you will like something until you get your feet wet. thats why i am looking at is memorial university in Newfoundland. Its a combo of ocean engineering and oil and gas. so i can have 2 career options rather than just the one. as well, the tuition is about 1/3 the price compared UofA. anyhow… </p>
<p>is it common for engineers to get their phds? is it best to get work experience before i go for my masters etc… or does it really matter?</p>
<p>I have talked to my uncle who is a petroleum engineer. He works in the city and has help me out a bunch about the job. He even said that if need be he can assist me in getting an internship with his company. that gives a little bit of reassurance. </p>
<p>I am so excited to get into my second year and start doing more interesting classes!</p>