What are Petroleum Engineers like?

Hi,

I’m a physics graduate in the UK thinking of taking a masters in petroleum engineering.

After researching petroleum engineering as a career for the last week or so, I still can’t really get a grasp of what it’s like being a petroleum engineer. Some people say the hours are too long and others say that thats I only the case if you work for a smaller company. Some say its for people that like to problem solve and others say its for people who like to get their hands dirty. What are the ideal characteristics you should have if you want to be a successful petroleum engineer? How important is a ‘fascination’ in geology and a ‘love for tinkering’ in maintaining the motivation to work as a petroleum engineer?

My interests seem to change every month and I don’t really have a burning passion to pursue any particular career, but I have always had an aptitude for maths and science, so I’m looking for a career that involves them and makes you use your brain.

Oil and gas is the industry that the whole world relies on for everything, so being someone who has the skills and knowledge to help keep that industry afloat is the main thing attracting me to petroleum engineering. The idea of having 2 weeks of intense work followed by two weeks of no stress is also appealing, but I’m not the most conscientious person out there, so would I be able to handle it? Travelling also looks like a bonus at first, working in different environments would be exciting, but having a family is also really important to me, can petroleum engineers have that?

So those are the reasons why I’m considering it, but I have never had interest in rocks, or played with legos as a kid so doesn’t that mean I’m not cut out for it?