Petroleum Engineering: an in demand position in the Oil and Gas Industry

Petroleum Engineering demand

Thanks to the surge of oil explorations, petroleum engineering has been highly in demand in the oil&gas industry. With little supply of petroleum engineers, oil companies pay them enormous amounts of money. A friend of ours working as a Training Specialist in a petroleum company mentioned to us that if he was younger he would go back to college and study the course of Petroleum Engineering but he was already in his forties with a family and his current position also has good pay. 

So what keeps the supply of petroleum engineers low a midst great demand for them?

Only few institutions provide the course with accreditation. They produce only around a hundred graduates per year. Also, most of the graduates are those who are really interested in the field. A few of them only took the course because of the high pay. This could make them end up miserable with their work in the field because they could be expecting a glamorous job when it is the total opposite. Petroleum engineers work around 12-18 hours in the field which is also away from their home. Before deciding to pursue the career think again if you are really interested in it and if being away from your family and long hours of work is okay with you. For clarification, you only get to work like this in the duration of your contract. If your contract states that you work 2 weeks then you will have 2 weeks of vacation, then that is how it is going to go.

The Salary in Petroleum Engineering

Graduates earn around $90,000 - $100,000 yearly after a three-month probation period. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, petroleum engineers earn an average of $138,000 annually.  This field offers one of the highest salary rate. Most petroleum engineering students find employment before graduation while other students are immediately employable upon graduation. Oil companies across the globe need petroleum engineers due to its inadequate supply. The rising demand for fuel triggers a salary raise for petroleum engineers as a proportion. Petroleum engineers are the most traveled professionals across the globe.

Petroleum Engineering education

Petroleum engineers must have a four-year bachelor's degree in engineering. the courses cover topics include geology, chemistry, physics, calculus, differential equations, computer applications, natural gas engineering and well construction. State licensing of petroleum engineers vary from state to state but state boards require your school to be accredited by the American Board for Engineering and technology.

How my husband became an Oil Rig Worker

How we found the oil rig opportunity

I believe it was divine intervention that helped my husband get an oil rig job. You see we are experiencing financial struggle due to our failing dump truck business and lucky for him he got acquainted with a man who works in an oil rig company in Saudi Arabia. But prior to that, he use to work as a seaman with 9 months being away from his family working in a cargo ship and that made him really want to get out of the system of being away that long especially when he misses our son and hear stories about children rebelling against their parents because they do not have their attention and love. He just wants to be there more for our son. I use to browse the internet and look for oil rig opportunities that he can apply a job for but no matter how many resumes I sent online for him no one seems to notice his skills and experience. So we put it on hold until such time when we are in need of dire help to get out of our financial situation it was really fate that my husband would talk to a man who referred him to his company. Thank you lord, Jesus! You are our great provider.

Onshore and offshore oil rig jobs

When my husband passed his interview, the Croatian big guy from the oil rig told him that he will be working offshore, a manned platform in the middle of the sea, so he needs to undergo 7 months of training provided by the company before getting deployed. The forklift operators who also passed the interview will be working onshore where oil rigs are currently being dug. In case you are wondering what the difference is between an onshore and offshore, in onshore you work on land where the oil rig is situated or currently being dug. Offshore jobs are based on a platform in the sea where you get to stay depending on your contract. My husband signed a contract for an 84 days offshore work and 42 days vacation. Good thing about his company is that all the imperative training are free of charge while others have to pay for theirs just to land an oil rig job. The oil drilling companies will be the ones providing their workers with food, accommodation, and plane tickets. I have watched an offshore oil rig documentary and saw that they have really good hotel or restaurant style food. Offshore jobs pay are higher than onshore jobs due to the hazard and risk involved but what are the odds that bad things could happen. Safety is the number one goal in the oil and gas industry. It is strictly implemented by Safety Officers who are also in demand in the field.

The Future in Oil Rig

My husband is currently in Saudi Arabia undergoing the 7-month training which includes the IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Managing Safely, HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training), BOSIET (Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training), and many more once i get the complete list from my husband I will update this post with the training. It was a blessing for us that the oil rig job came at the lowest point in our lives where we need a fall back. He was somehow relieved because he did not want to go back working 9 months away from us again. To top it off, his oil rig job salary pays double of what he earns from being a seaman and he does not need to take an exam to raise his rank as long as he proves his dedication, promotion and pay raise is certain. Oil rig jobs are one of the most sought after jobs because of the good pay and good benefits. For some landing their first job in the oil rig is quite challenging and the toughest part of the process but once you get in it is worth the challenge.